Research

Find out more about some of our natural hazards-related work.

Identifying rip currents using artificial intelligence

NIWA and Surf Life Saving New Zealand are working together to develop a state-of-the-art, rip current identification tool underpinned by artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning technologies.

RiskScape software

RiskScape is a software application for analysing natural hazard consequences.

Future Coasts Aotearoa

Aotearoa New Zealand’s coastal lowlands are our flat low-lying land (or plains) adjacent to coasts and estuaries. Our coastal lowlands are valued for many reasons, including unique ecological wetlands, cultural sites of significance, valued recreational areas, highly-productive agriculture and are popular places to live.

Tsunami generated by underwater volcanoes

Marsden-funded research investigating how erupting volcanoes can cause deadly and damaging tsunamis.

Mā te haumaru ō ngā puna wai ō Rākaihautū ka ora mō ake tonu: Increasing flood resilience across Aotearoa

This five-year NIWA-led research programme is developing a system to map flood hazard consistently across the whole country. It will reveal how our flood risk might change over the next 100 years because of changes to rainfall and sea level from climate change, as well as due to land-use changes. Find out more.

Forecasting weather systems

NIWA’s research into forecasting weather systems aims to increase the resilience of New Zealand communities to weather-related hazards.

Adaptive futures: a serious game for climate change adaptation

NIWA is using serious games to look at problems holistically, support understanding and give a framework for climate change adaptation decision-making.

Extreme weather - winds and tornadoes

Due to its position in the 'Roaring Forties', a belt of strong winds in the Southern Hemisphere which generally occur between the latitudes of 40 and 49 degrees, as well as its small size, New Zealand is a windy country.

Coastal adaptation to climate change

NIWA is developing guidelines and advice to help coastal communities adapt to climate change.

PARTneR (Pacific Risk Tool for Resilience)

Understanding how hazards impact people and the environment provides the foundation for informed decision making for a resilient Pacific

Submarine faulting beneath Pegasus Bay

In September 2010 and February 2011, two devastating earthquakes (M7.1 and M6.3 respectively) hit the Canterbury region

Wave and storm-surge projections (WASP)

NIWA is working on a ministry-funded project to produce a model, validated by 40 years of historic data, to project future wave and storm surges off the coast for two climate change scenarios.

Physical hazards affecting coastal margins and the continental shelf

This programme is about providing improved knowledge of the causes and potential consequences of coastal hazards in New Zealand, and how often they might pose a threat.