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.

Drought forecasting dashboard

The drought forecasting tool uses innovative climate modelling, the latest in machine learning and other data-driven techniques to predict rainfall 35 days ahead. Helping farmers and growers better prepare for periods of dryness and drought.

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    Common climate and weather terms

    Education Resource
    Confused about El Niño, or can't tell the difference between an Anticyclone and an Isobar? Let us help.

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    Manawatu-Wanganui

    The climate of the Manawatu-Wanganui region is a reflection of the generally disturbed westerly air flow with interspersed anticyclones, modified in specific places by the local topography.

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    Investigating ocean acidification

    Feature story
    06 June 2017
    The world’s oceans are acidifying as a result of the carbon dioxide (CO2) generated by humanity.
    Climate change
    Ocean acidification
    Oceans

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    Clouds

    Education Resource
    Common questions about clouds, how they are formed and how they behave.

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    What is the chance of a warm summer in Invercargill?

    In this activity you will analyse the Southern Oscillation Index and investigate the chances of getting below normal, normal or above normal summer temperatures in Invercargill.
    Climate and weather

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    Manawatu

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    Generating synthetic wind data

    Research Project
    NIWA has recently created synthetic, multi-year, 10-minute wind datasets at 15 wind farm sites across New Zealand. These will be used by the Electricity Commission to model the impact of wind farms on the national grid.
    Weather forecasting

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    Tornado damage Whenuapai.

    Extreme weather - winds and tornadoes

    Education Resource
    Due to its position in the 'Roaring Forties', a belt of strong winds in the Southern Hemisphere which generally occur between the latitudes of 40 and 49 degrees, as well as its small size, New Zealand is a windy country.
    Weather forecasting
    Hazards
    Weather hazards

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    HIRDSv4 Usage

    ESNZ's High Intensity Rainfall Design System (HIRDS) offers planners and engineers more certainty about the frequency of high-intensity rainfall events, enabling them to better design stormwater drainage, flood defence systems and other vital structures.

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    Tornadoes - how frequently do they hit New Zealand?

    News article
    06 June 2017
    Tornadoes, like the one that hit Auckland's western suburbs today, are relatively rare events in New Zealand.

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    Wairarapa drought

    Drought

    Education Resource
    Defining drought and identifying its causes and impacts on humans.
    Climate and weather
    Climate change

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    What is Ocean acidification?

    NIWA oceanographer Dr Cliff Law explains the impacts of ocean acidification on organisms that use carbonates to build their shells, and on bacteria.
    Antarctica
    Oceans
    Ocean acidification