Drought forecasting dashboard
NIWA and MPI are working together to develop a new drought forecasting tool. It uses innovative climate modelling, the latest in machine learning and other data-driven techniques to predict rainfall 35 days ahead. It will help farmers and growers better prepare for periods of dryness and drought.
Climate and weather
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Atmospheric river of moisture headed for New Zealand
News article06 July 2016A series of low pressure systems will trek across the Tasman from tonight into the weekend, resulting in locally heavy rain and the potential for flooding and slips for the east of the North Island. -
Dear diary: A pioneer of meteorology
Feature story30 June 2016The discovery of diaries of an English missionary living in Northland in the 1800s reveals him as New Zealand’s first meteorologist. -
Record-breaking mid-winter warmth
News article23 June 2016NIWA Meteorologist Ben Noll takes a north-to-south look at the record-breaking warm temperatures experienced by Kiwis during the winter solstice. -
New Zealand reaches climate change milestone
News article07 June 2016An important scientific milestone was reached on a windswept point at the bottom of the North Island this week. -
NIWA's Hotspot Watch
Hotspot18 April 2016Across the North Island, soil moisture levels have generally remained the same or decreased slightly when compared to this time last week. -
NIWA's Hotspot Watch 1 April 2016
Hotspot01 April 2016Across the North Island, soil moisture levels have generally remained the same or increased when compared to this time last week. -
Carbonate analysis
We use various types of carbonate - e.g. aragonite from coral, otoliths (fish ear bones), bivalves (sea shells), and speleothems (limestone cave calcite) - in paleoclimate research. -
NIWA's Hotspot Watch
Hotspot29 March 2016A weekly update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent. Regions experiencing these soil moisture deficits are deemed “hotspots”. Persistent hotspot regions have the potential to develop into drought. -
NIWA's Hotspot Watch
Hotspot18 March 2016A weekly update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent. Regions experiencing these soil moisture deficits are deemed “hotspots”. Persistent hotspot regions have the potential to develop into drought. -
NIWA's Hotspot Watch
Hotspot11 March 2016A weekly update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent. -
Scientists attribute rising methane levels to agriculture
Media release11 March 2016A breakthrough in understanding about the causes of climate change has today been published online in the prestigious international journal Science.
