Hazards

River floods occur when water spills from a river channel onto land that is normally dry, and are one of New Zealand's costliest natural hazards.

Some commonly-asked questions about tornadoes in New Zealand.

Floods are not unusual in New Zealand, but those that hit us early this winter broke records. Why did they occur? Should we expect more? Can we predict future floods?

This system combines daily sea-level data from NIWA, regional councils, port companies, Antarctica NZ, Bureau of Meteorology and territorial authorities.

A glossary of common climate change and meteorological terms.

The current method for calculating wind speed-up is inadequate, and can grossly under-predict correct design wind speeds in NZ's complex terrain.

Coastal risk exposure for New Zealand, adaptation guidance for local government and relevant summaries of previous court cases and Building Act 2004 determinations.

Information about climate and weather and links to climate-related websites.

The Kiwi dream of owning a beachfront property with panoramic views of the ocean is under threat—and not just for financial reasons.

Common questions about storms and cyclones in New Zealand.

One of the major consequences of climate change is rising global sea levels.

Maps of the average first and last dates of soil moisture deficit are shown here.