Climate & Weather

Understanding our variable and changing climate is critical for managing resources and reducing risks.

  • Raglan Wharf

    Climate change information for climate solvers

    Helping you understand the science of climate change. The things we can do to combat climate change, individually, and alongside our whānau, school and community, can and will make a difference.
  • Lake Rotorua banner image

    A framework for climate change adaptation – 'pathways thinking'

    Education Resource
    Helping you understand the science of climate change. The things we can do to combat climate change, individually, and alongside our whānau, school and community, can and will make a difference.
  • Antarctica

    Antarctica and the climate

    Education Resource
    This icy continent plays a big part in our global climate and, in turn, is directly affected by changes to the global climate – making Antarctica and the climate inextricably linked.
  • Rangiora cattle

    Climate change and agriculture

    Education Resource
    Helping you understand the science of climate change. The things we can do to combat climate change, individually, and alongside our whānau, school and community, can and will make a difference.
  • Stop bank along the Hutt River.

    Adapting to climate change

    Education Resource
    Helping you understand the science of climate change. The things we can do to combat climate change, individually, and alongside our whānau, school and community, can and will make a difference.
  • Further ice loss for NZ’s glaciers

    Media release
    NIWA’s annual end-of-summer snowline survey has revealed continued loss of snow and ice for New Zealand’s famous glaciers.
  • Hotspot Watch 31 March 2023

    Hotspot
    This is the final Hotspot Watch for this season. The Hotspot Watch will return in the spring.
  • Cyclone Gabrielle in NZ 2023

    Climate change

    Climate change effects are accelerating, driving the need for actions informed by sound climate knowledge.
  • Hotspot Watch 24 March 2023

    Hotspot
    A weekly update describing soil moisture patterns across the country to show where dry to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent.
  • Dramatic changes in New Zealand river flows, research finds

    Media release
    River flows in New Zealand have changed dramatically over the past 50 to 90 years as the climate has varied, a new study has found.
  • Hotspot Watch 17 March 2023

    Hotspot
    A weekly update describing soil moisture patterns across the country to show where dry to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent. Regions experiencing significant soil moisture deficits are deemed “hotspots”. Persistent hotspot regions have the potential to develop into drought.
  • Hotspot Watch 10 March 2023

    Hotspot
    A weekly update describing soil moisture patterns across the country to show where dry to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent. Regions experiencing significant soil moisture deficits are deemed “hotspots”. Persistent hotspot regions have the potential to develop into drought.