On 1 July 2025, NIWA merged with GNS Science to become Earth Sciences New Zealand.

Crepuscular rays

Crepuscular rays form when the clouds or land creates shadows and highlights in the sky. Crepuscular comes from the Latin word "crepusculum", meaning twilight - the time when this effect is most often seen. This image shows crepuscular rays filtering through stratocumulus cloud with a fine layer of cirrus behind. Photo taken by Alan Blacklock.