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Covering Climate Now

Media Release
17 September 2019
Expect to hear a lot more about climate change in the news in the weeks ahead – and a lot about NIWA’s work underpinning the science that is signalling a warmer world right now and its effects in the future.

Rare weather phenomenon possible

Media Release
22 August 2019
NIWA meteorologists are keeping an eye on an unusual atmospheric phenomenon that is amassing in the polar stratosphere.

2019 so far - a story of weather and climate extremes

Media Release
2 July 2019
We’re now halfway through 2019 and NIWA climate data from the first six months tell a dramatic story of weather and climate extremes.

It only gets brighter from tomorrow!

Media Release
20 June 2019
We’re here already – the shortest day is tomorrow (Saturday) and after this, it gets progressively lighter out to the longest day of the year in December.

Ambitious NIWA-led Antarctic Ocean project gets go-ahead

Media Release
18 June 2019
Understanding how the Antarctic oceans work is vital to predicting the world’s future climate and the implications of climate change for humankind and the planet.

Fieldays Weather 2019: a mix of rain, sun, fog and fun

Media Release
10 June 2019
If you’re planning a visit to the National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek this week, here’s what you can expect from the weather.

Seasonal records set to fall like autumn leaves

Media Release
30 May 2019
With just a few days of autumn left, prolonged warm weather and less rain than normal means some spots across New Zealand are heading for the record books.

Thermal images reveal heat levels in New Zealand’s glaciers

Media Release
23 May 2019
Thermal images taken by a NIWA scientist during this year’s aerial survey of South Island glaciers have revealed in extraordinary detail how heat in the surrounding landscape is affecting the ice.

Scientists study how to predict marine heatwaves

Media Release
16 May 2019
Scientists have taken a step closer to predicting marine heatwaves with new NIWA-led research finding a link between their formation and the length of time sea temperatures are warmer than normal.^.

Emirates Team New Zealand seek NIWA’s technical edge

Media Release
14 May 2019
Grant Dalton, CEO of Emirates Team New Zealand, and NIWA CEO John Morgan recently signed an agreement that will see NIWA’s scientists working closely with Emirates Team New Zealand over the next few years.

NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 1 May 2019

Hot spot
2 May 2019
Hotspots in the North Island are currently found in Aupouri Peninsula, interior Manawatu-Whanganui, and interior Hawke’s Bay. South Island hotspots are currently found in interior Marlborough, a small area near Christchurch, coastal southern Canterbury, and a portion of Stewart Island.

Scientists discover solar heat drives rapid melting of Ross Ice Shelf

Media Release
30 April 2019
Part of the world’s largest ice shelf is melting 10 times faster than the overall average and solar-heated waters beneath the ice shelf are to blame, NIWA research has found.

Environment report a clear picture of change: NIWA

Media Release
18 April 2019
The latest state of the environment report released today provides New Zealanders with clear evidence that our climate, freshwater and marine systems are changing, says NIWA.

NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 17 April 2019

Hot spot
17 April 2019
Across the North Island, soil moisture levels generally changed little during the past week. In the South Island, increases were observed along most of the West Coast, interior Otago, and Marlborough Sounds, while decreases occurred in Stewart Island.

NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 10 April 2019

Hot spot
10 April 2019
Across the North Island, soil moisture levels decreased in big parts of the island during the past week due to meagre rainfall. In the South Island, soil moisture decreases were observed across much of the island.

NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 4 April 2019

Hot spot
4 April 2019
An increase in soil moisture in many areas across the North Island, including Northland, Auckland, Waikato, eastern Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, and Taranaki. No significant change in the South Island. Outlook is for low to moderate rainfall, countrywide.

March temperatures more evidence of a warming climate

Media Release
3 April 2019
NIWA today released its March Climate Summary which confirms temperatures during the first month of autumn were at record highs in many places.

NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 29 March 2019

Hot spot
29 March 2019
Hotspots continue to be found across a large part of Northland, Auckland, northern Waikato, and interior Bay of Plenty, as well as central Manawatu-Whanganui and Napier south to Wairarapa. South Island hotspots are currently located in a portion of interior Marlborough, eastern Banks Peninsula, south coastal Otago and parts of lower Southland.

NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 20 March 2019

Hot spot
20 March 2019
Hotspots are now located across the majority of Northland, Auckland, northern Waikato, and interior Bay of Plenty, as well as central Manawatu-Whanganui and Napier south to Wairarapa. South Island hotspots are now located in a portion of interior Marlborough, eastern Banks Peninsula, and the lower Southland coast.

NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 13 March 2019

Hot spot
13 March 2019

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.

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