News

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

  • Orchard damage following Cyclone Gabrielle

    Microsites for rapid impact assessment & recovery after Cyclone Gabrielle 

    News article
    The rapid impact assessment tool provides a scenario model framework to rapidly assess natural hazard exposure or impacts.
  • Kiribati sea wall

    Coastal inundation risk in the Pacific

    News article
    Researchers created national sea-level risk profiles for populations, buildings, croplands & infrastructure under present & future climate scenarios.
  • The thing

    Clever sleuthing unmasks mystery ocean creature

    Media release
    A mystery specimen has been identified as a species never documented in New Zealand waters.
  • Clouds-landscape

    Government announcement about NIWA and MetService

    News article
    NIWA is pleased with the announcement today by the Science, Innovation and Technology Minister of the Government’s response to a recent review of New Zealand’s weather forecasting system.
  • New Ghost Shark

    New species of NZ ghost shark discovered

    Media release
    Scientists have found a new ghost shark that lives exclusively in the deep waters of Australia and New Zealand. 
  • "Now or never": fight against invasive clam gets critical boost

    Media release
    NIWA has been awarded $10.2m to investigate an invasive clam that was only recently discovered in New Zealand waters.
  • Cyclone Gabrielle - Hawke's Bay

    Cyclone Gabrielle was intensified by human-induced global warming

    Media release
    A new NIWA-led study has found that climate change increased the amount of total rainfall during Cyclone Gabrielle by 10%.
  • Kaharoa II

    New vessel to study undersea in the Hauraki Gulf

    News article
    NIWA’s new research vessel, Kaharoa II, will be in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park/ Ko te Pataka kai o Tīkapa Moana Te Moananui-ā-Toi over the next three weeks, filming underwater habitats.
  • Kaharoa II christening

    Cutting-edge research vessel arrives in Wellington

    Media release
    NIWA’s brand-new research vessel, Kaharoa II, was officially christened by Minister Judith Collins today. 
  • Kingfish in the recirculating aquaculture system at the Northland Marine Research Centre.

    Kingfish – the new species for New Zealand aquaculture

    Media release
    Commercial-scale production of kingfish - a high-value, white-fleshed finfish to complement salmon - is now a reality in New Zealand. 
  • Supercomputing for the nation - NIWA’s new $20 million supercomputer

    Media release
    A $20 million investment in NIWA’s world-leading climate, marine and freshwater science and advanced technologies.
  • Polar vortex July 2024

    The rare event driving the Southern Hemisphere’s weather

    Media release
    An unusual disturbance high above Antarctica is causing polar air to encroach on different parts of the Southern Hemisphere, including New Zealand.