News

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

  • Weathering new technology in Tonga

    Feature story
    There are about 800km between the southern and northern tips of Tonga - and a lot of ocean.
  • Ten years of the weather with you

    Feature story
    In the past 10 years, more weather records have been broken than in any other time in New Zealand’s history.
  • Hotspot Watch 19 December 2019

    Hotspot
    Across the North Island, moderate to large increases in soil moisture levels were observed in many locations due to substantial rainfall in the past week. Across the South Island, substantial rainfall contributed to moderate to large increases in soil moisture levels in the vast majority of the island.
  • ‘Tis the season for a Christmas weather forecast…

    Media release
    If Santa is quick he can hop on a ridge of high pressure for his big trip to New Zealand very soon.
  • Hotspot Watch 11 December 2019

    Hotspot
    Across the North Island, notable increases in soil moisture levels were observed in the southwest, from Taranaki south to Wellington.
  • Hotspot Watch 5 December 2019

    Hotspot
    Across the North Island, notable decreases in soil moisture levels were observed from Northland to Waikato, including the Coromandel Peninsula.
  • Hottest November on record: NIWA climate scientists

    Media release
    New Zealand has just experienced its hottest November on record, according to NIWA climate scientists.
  • Hotspot Watch 28 November 2019

    Hotspot
    Across the North Island, soil moisture levels decreased island-wide during the past week due to meagre rainfall and above average temperatures.
  • The week it snowed everywhere

    Media release
    Novel handwriting recognition project casts new light on historic weather data.
  • Hotspot Watch 20 November 2019

    Hotspot
    Across the North Island, soil moisture levels increased in many places during the past week. In the South Island, soil moisture levels generally decreased in the east and a slightly increased in the west.
  • Hotspot Watch 14 November 2019

    Hotspot
    Across the North Island, moderate to large increases in soil moisture levels were observed in most locations due to substantial rainfall in the past week. In the South Island, soil moisture levels increased everywhere during the past week, and significantly so in many places.
  • Hotspot Watch 6 November 2019

    Hotspot
    Across the North Island, soil moisture levels decreased everywhere during the past week due to meagre rainfall and above average temperatures. The most significant decreases were observed across the northern half of the North Island, where soil moisture levels are now below normal nearly everywhere from Northland to Waikato and Bay of Plenty.