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

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Atmosphere

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Atmosphere

World class research contributing to our understanding of greenhouse gases, ozone depletion, and urban air pollution.

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Air quality

Greenhouse and trace gases

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Research

Accurate quantification of methane emissions from waste and agriculture

CarbonWatch NZ

MethaneSAT

Total Carbon Column Observing Network

Chemistry-climate modelling

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Trace gas datasets

Carbon dioxide data

Methane data

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Facilities

Baring Head Atmospheric Research Station

Lauder Atmospheric Research Station

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MethaneSAT

Research Project

10 May 2023

Detecting and quantifying methane emissions by satellite
Climate & Weather

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Climate & Weather

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

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Climate change

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Updated national climate projections

Physics + AI climate projections

Nowcasting for solar and wind

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Providing climate change advice for NZ

Forecasting weather systems

Citizen science - rainfall monitoring

Serious games as a tool to engage people

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Climate change adaptation toolbox

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Leveraging updated climate projections

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Understanding our climate

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Sea Surface Temperature Update

Regional climatologies

Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook

Island Climate Update

El Niño and La Niña

NZ temperature record

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NIWA can help you leverage updated climate projections

Service

29 August 2024

NIWA is using updated climate projections to help New Zealanders better understand climate-related risks.
Hazards

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Hazards

Nature can be a destructive force. Our science prevents property damage and saves lives.

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Coastal hazards

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Future Coasts Aotearoa

Wave hazard research

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Mā te haumaru ō te wai: Aotearoa flood resilience

Responding to and preparing for extreme weather events

Forecasting weather systems

Tsunami generated by underwater volcanoes

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Extreme coastal flood maps for Aotearoa New Zealand

Storm-tide red-alert days 2025

Tide forecaster

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Drought dashboard

Serious games as a tool to engage people

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Tonga eruption confirmed as largest ever recorded

Media release

21 November 2022

A New Zealand-led team has completed the fullest investigation to date into January’s eruption of the underwater Tongan volcano.
Coasts & Oceans

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Coasts & Oceans

NIWA aims to provide the knowledge needed for the sound environmental management of our marine resources.

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Kingfish aquaculture

Future Coasts Aotearoa

Marine biosecurity

The Ross Sea toothfish fishery

Recreational Fishing

Marine identification guides

Voyages

Marine carbon

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Ross Sea “ACTUATE” Voyage - TAN2502

RV Tangaroa voyage to the Ross Sea, the ship’s 16th voyage to Antarctica and Southern Ocean.
Freshwater

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Freshwater

We provide public information on river, lake, and groundwater conditions across New Zealand including water quantity and quality.

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Ecological monitoring

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Research

Stopping the gold clam: it's now or never

Roto Turf: Aquatic plant ‘life rafts’ in degraded lakes

Freshwater mitigation systems

Fish Passage

High Frequency Water Quality Monitoring Guidance

Bio-Acoustic Fish Fence

Snow and Ice Network

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NIWA Water Quality Laboratory

Algal monitoring service

Ecotoxicology services

Freshwater aquatic plants

LakeSPI: Keeping tabs on lake health

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Freshwater databases online

Fish Passage Guidelines

Guidelines for monitoring fish passage success

Freshwater Fish database

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Riparian Buffer Design Guide

Constructed wetland guidelines

Stream Health Monitoring and Assessment Kit (SHMAK)

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Programmes

Freshwater species ecology and management

Hydrological observations and predictions

Environmental flows

Causes and effects of water quality degradation

Freshwater biosecurity

Freshwater mitigation systems

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Stopping the gold clam: it's now or never

A NIWA-led programme to develop effective, and culturally-attuned strategies for managing the freshwater gold clam.
Te Kūwaha

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Te Kūwaha

Working together with hapū, iwi, Māori communities and Māori business to deliver tailored science.

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Taonga species

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Research

Cultural Keystone Species

Maniapoto Cultural Assessment Framework

The impact of non-native marine pests on our takutai moana

Ngā repo o Maniapoto - Maniapoto wetland inventory

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Tools & Resources

Taonga Species Series

Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment (CCVA)

Kaitiaki Tools

Trends analysis for selected indicators of Waikato River health

Climate and Māori society

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Te Kūwaha Graduate Programme

19 January 2023

NIWA’s Te Kūwaha Graduate Internship programme has been established to help support and create tangible pathways for the next generation of Māori researchers.
Pacific

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Pacific

We provide applied science and environmental consultancy services to support international development. NIWA works collaboratively with Pacific partners to support the sustainable management and resilience of natural resources, environments & communities.

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Pacific freshwater

Pacific climate
Pacific fisheries and aquaculture
Pacific hazards
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Pacific marine biosecurity
Pacific ocean science

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Partnerships

A Floating University for the Pacific

Pacific Centre for Seabed 2030

Pacific Ocean Acidification Training Hub

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Research Projects

Pacific Risk Tool for Resilience, Phase 2 (PARTneR-2)

Improved sustainability of the demersal line fishery in Tonga

Development of sustainable water supply and treatment systems

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Tools & Services

Island Climate Update

Riskscape

Climate Data for the Environment Services Client (CliDESc)

Climatology maps for Vanuatu

On-Site Household Sanitation Guidelines for Fiji

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Island Climate Update

Publication series

06 June 2017

A monthly summary of the climate in the tropical South Pacific islands, with an outlook for the coming months.

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About

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About

Decision makers at all levels are seeking evidence-based analysis and advice from environmental experts. NIWA’s science provides high quality insights to underpin important decisions, and innovative solutions.

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NIWA and Kia Toipoto - Closing gender and ethnic pay gaps
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NIWA is committed to education in New Zealand at all levels.

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Climate change

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Common climate and weather terms

Drought

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Resources for teachers – lessons and activities

My coastal futures: adapting to climate change

Township flood challenge: adapting to more extreme weather

Rangi: understanding weather and climate

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Estuaries: when fresh water meets salty

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Read about the important science being undertaken at NIWA, and how it affects New Zealanders

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Publications

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News & Events

Methane monitoring advances promise benefits for agriculture and waste sectors

Loss of contact with MethaneSAT satellite won’t stop agricultural emissions research

Seasonal Climate Outlook July - September 2025

A new era for New Zealand science

Matariki 2025 viewing conditions

Native forests sink more carbon than expected
Publications

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Flagship Science Programmes

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Flagship Science Programmes

NIWA’s flagship programmes bring together experts, partners and technologies to tackle key environmental challenges and deliver solutions to help New Zealand build resilience and manage its environment wisely.

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Science programmes

Future Climate Flagship

Changing Atmosphere Flagship

Future Freshwater Flagship

Healthy Freshwater Flagship

Future Oceans Flagship

Healthy Oceans Flagship

Hazards Flagship

Aquatic Biosecurity Flagship

Rivers to Sea Flagship

High Value Aquaculture Flagship

Wild Fisheries Flagship

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Dr Olaf Morgenstern — Profile photo of Dr Olaf Morgenstern, Principal Scientist - Atmosphere and Climate.

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