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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    Tropical cyclone update #2

    News article
    15 February 2016
    Niwa meteorologists continue to cast a watchful eye over two strengthening tropical cyclones in the South Pacific.

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    NIWA's Hotspot Watch

    Hotspot
    12 February 2016
    A weekly update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent.

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    Tropical cyclone update #1

    News article
    11 February 2016
    NIWA meteorologists are monitoring the potential for ex-tropical cyclones to affect New Zealand early next week.

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    Improving seasonal climate forecasts

    Feature story
    08 February 2016
    NIWA’s climate scientists are working to improve seasonal climate forecasts.

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    NIWA's Hotspot Watch

    Hotspot
    05 February 2016
    A weekly update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent.

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    Meeting the challenge of ocean acidification

    Feature story
    01 February 2016
    New Zealand’s answer to ocean acidification is a model of the ‘best team’ approach – when organisations pool talent and resources to find solutions to national, or global, issues.]
    Ocean acidification

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    NIWA's Hotspot Watch

    Hotspot
    29 January 2016
    A weekly update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent.

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    NIWA's Hotspot Watch

    Hotspot
    22 January 2016
    Over the past week, soil moisture levels across the North Island have mostly remained the same or increased.

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    Field work and collections

    Climate Present and Past is involved with maintaining nationally important collections and undertaking field work.

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    Extremes

    Although New Zealand is located in a temperate region, the country still experiences extreme climatic conditions from time to time.

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    Trends

    The Earth’s climate experiences changes caused by natural fluctuations as well as human influences. These result in trends over time for different climatic variables.

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    Synoptic types

    New Zealand is affected by weather systems which originate over the seas around the country, which can be characterised as 12 daily weather types.