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.

Climate and weather

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    Coldest seawater discovered

    Feature story
    06 June 2017
    The coldest seawater on earth could help scientists understand why Antarctic sea ice is growing in a warming world
    Ocean flows and productivity
    Oceans
    Antarctica

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    Services

    How can we help you?

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    Map South

    Education Resource
    Most of this climate zone is characterised by cool coastal breezes, and absence of shelter from the unsettled weather that moves over the sea from the south and southwest.
    Climate and weather

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    How deep is the snow at your place?

    Measurements of snowfall at low elevations around New Zealand are few and far between, and yet the data would be really helpful in understanding how snowfall occurs and quantifying snow-related risks.
    Citizen science

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    NZ temperature record

    Research Project
    There are many lines of evidence showing that NZ has warmed during the past century.
    Climate change
    Climate data

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    Southwest Pacific climate

    Our southwest Pacific research focuses on recent and historic climate and weather activity, including our involvement in ACRE Pacific data rescue.

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    Mean daily global radiation (Mj/sq m)

    These datasets are available in a range of formats.

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    Gisborne

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    Edgecumbe flood damage

    Climate change
    Floods

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    Tropical Cyclone Cook churning across Pacific

    Media release
    10 April 2017
    NIWA meteorologist Seth Carrier outlines the likely path of Cyclone Cook, which is gaining strength in the Pacific.

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    Tropical Torrent by the numbers

    Media release
    07 April 2017
    The Tropical Torrent that spread over New Zealand this week, produced up to three times the normal April rainfall for some locations in three days, NIWA forecaster Ben Noll says.

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    Tropical Torrent takes aim at New Zealand

    Media release
    31 March 2017
    After thrashing Australia, what’s left of ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie is forecast to slowly move across the Tasman Sea over the weekend and soak New Zealand next week.