On 1 July 2025, NIWA merged with GNS Science to become Earth Sciences New Zealand.

Climate & Weather

Understanding our variable and changing climate is critical for managing resources and reducing risks.

  • Climate change and variability - report for the Greater Wellington Region

  • Climate change will cause more deaths from air pollution, study finds

    Media release
    New research estimates that if climate change goes unchecked 60,000 more people will die globally from air pollution in 2030 – just 13 years away.
  • So far, so stormy

    Media release
    Today’s low came spinning off the coast of Hawke’s Bay funneling strong winds through the Cook Strait and hitting Wellington region with strong winds before moving on to Taranaki and Auckland this afternoon.
  • Coconut palms against the night sky in Tongatapu

    Island Climate Update

    Publication series
    A monthly summary of the climate in the tropical South Pacific islands, with an outlook for the coming months.
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    Mean daily minimum temperatures (°C)

    These datasets are available in a range of formats.
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    Map North

    Education Resource
    This is a sub-tropical climate zone, with warm humid summers and mild winters.
  • Lesson 2: Wind

    Education Resource
    Sometimes wind can feel like a bit of a mystery because we can feel it, but not see it.
  • Winter 2020 – NZ’s warmest winter on record

    Media release
    New Zealand has just experienced its warmest winter on record, according to official NIWA climate data.
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    Climate mapping

    Read about how NIWA can map any aspect of climate to help guide your organisation's response to a changing and variable climate.
  • Bay of Plenty

    The topography of the North Island has a profound effect on the weather of the Bay of Plenty region.
  • Native forests absorbing more carbon dioxide

    Media release
    New Zealand’s forests and other land areas may be absorbing up to 60% more carbon dioxide than has been calculated, with much of this uptake likely occurring in native forests, NIWA scientists have discovered.