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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  • Link to source page

    Hotspot Watch for 2 February 2017

    Hotspot
    02 February 2017
    A 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.

  • Link to source page

    Summer just doing its thing, says NIWA

    Media release
    27 January 2017
    Is the weather really better in February than January?

  • Link to source page

    Hotspot Watch for 26 January 2017

    Hotspot
    26 January 2017
    An update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent.

  • Link to source page

    Hotspot Watch for 19 January 2017

    Hotspot
    19 January 2017
    An update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent.

  • Link to source page

    Hotspot Watch for 12 January 2017

    Hotspot
    12 January 2017
    An update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent.

  • Link to source page

    NIWA's Annual Climate Summary Media Conference

    Watch live as NIWA climate scientists present the NIWA 2016 Annual Climate Summary.

  • Link to source page

    Summer Series week 4: Scientist keeps cool head on the ice

    Media release
    06 January 2017
    Top of Natalie Robinson’s to-do list right now is to work out exactly what she’s brought back from Antarctica.
    Antarctica
    Climate change

  • Link to source page

    NIWA's Annual Climate Summary Media Conference

    Event
    06 January 2017
    NIWA climate scientists present the NIWA 2016 Annual Climate Summary.

  • Link to source page

    Hotspot Watch for 5 January 2017

    Hotspot
    05 January 2017
    An update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent.

  • Link to source page

    Summer Series week 3: Above and beyond, a voyage in the pacific

    Feature story
    02 January 2017
    A NIWA technician spends four days and three nights on a crowded boat heading to one of the most remote places in the Pacific to help install a weather station. Conditions are so arduous he decides to quit his job - but how do you do that in the middle of the ocean?

  • Link to source page

    Hotspot Watch for 21 December

    Hotspot
    21 December 2016
    An update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent.

  • Link to source page

    Hotspot Watch for 8 December 2016

    Hotspot
    08 December 2016
    A weekly update describing soil moisture anomalies across the country.