In the lead up to embracing our new identity as Earth Sciences New Zealand, on 26 June, staff in offices all around Aotearoa joined a livestream event celebrating 33 years of the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA).
The event paid tribute to all the ‘NIWA Originals’ who have been with NIWA since day one, but made special mention of one NIWA OG, as the recent recipient of the Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific (COSPPac) Recognition Award - our own Alan Porteous.
Partners from Pacific Met Services and regional agencies nominated Alan in recognition of his significant contribution to climate services and technical support through the years. The award was presented to NIWA on Alan’s behalf at a steering committee in Honiara, Solomon Islands in late May 2025, but it was grand opportunity for all NIWA staff to celebrate this recognition together with Alan.
“The important thing we’ve found in the Pacific work is the relationships that have been built and the growing recognition that NIWA is a trustworthy organisation and one that is out to support our Pacific colleagues in many different ways,” Alan said upon accepting his award.
“I think the work is only really just getting started. There’s so much more we can do and hopefully we can garner the resources to do this important work.”
Listen to the RNZ interview with Alan Porteous.
