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.

  • NZ's warmest and wettest winter on record

    Media release
    NIWA’s climate scientists can now confirm what you may have suspected. After carefully poring through more than a century’s worth of data, it has been officially determined that winter 2022 was Aotearoa New Zealand’s warmest and wettest on record.
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    Map Alpine

    Education Resource
    Mountainous areas are subject to heavy snowfalls, high winds, and low temperatures. Semi-permanent snow and ice fields exist at about 1000-1100 metres during winter.
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    West Coast

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    How do we determine past climate?

    Information about past climate is obtained from piecing evidence together from various sources.
  • Otago

    The climate of Otago is perhaps the most diverse of any region in New Zealand.
  • PARTneR (Pacific Risk Tool for Resilience)

    Research Project
    Understanding how hazards impact people and the environment provides the foundation for informed decision making for a resilient Pacific.
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    Mean 10cm earth temperature (°C)

    These datasets are available in a range of formats.
  • Tropical Cyclone Hamish

    Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook

    Publication series
    A summary of up-coming tropical cyclone seasons, issued 6-monthly.
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    Map C North

    Education Resource
    As this region is sheltered by high country to the south and east, it has less wind than many other parts of New Zealand.
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    Canterbury

  • Regional modelling of New Zealand climate

    Research Project
    Developing probabilistic scenarios of expected future regional climate changes.
  • Average soil moisture deficit onset and termination maps

    Maps of the average first and last dates of soil moisture deficit are shown here.