News

8 February 2019

Across the North Island, soil moisture levels decreased nearly everywhere during the past week. In the South Island, soil moisture levels decreased during the past week with meagre rainfall in the north and east.

They were defrosting leopard seal poo...you won't believe what happened next!

5 February 2019

For more than a year a frozen slab of leopard seal poo sat in a NIWA freezer. The poo, known scientifically as scat and about the size of two bread rolls, is as good as gold for leopard seal researchers.

The heatwave in numbers

1 February 2019

NIWA has crunched the data on this week’s heatwave and come up with the following record breakers

NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 31 January 2019

31 January 2019

Areas deemed hotspots have expanded significantly during the past week in the North Island, while in the South Island the previous hotspot encompassing Nelson and nearby portions of Tasman has continued to strengthen during the past week.

Māori carvers head to Antarctica

30 January 2019

Two Māori carvers head to Antarctica next week to complete and install a traditional carving at Scott Base, New Zealand’s headquarters on the ice.

Scientists confirm warming seas around New Zealand

24 January 2019

The water in the New Zealand region is significantly warmer than it was 30 years ago, and all indications are the warming trend will continue, says a NIWA scientist.

NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 23 January 2019

23 January 2019

The previous hotspot in the Far North dissipated around the Aupouri Peninsula in the past week, but has spread south into northern Whangarei and Kaipara districts. The current hotspot in Tasman could strengthen in the next week, while central Canterbury may see a new hotspot form in the coming week.

NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 16 January 2019

16 January 2019

The previous hotspot in the Far North has expanded in size during the past week, now encompassing much of the eastern Far North and the Aupouri Peninsula. A hotspot remains in place across Nelson and nearby portions of Tasman, but no other South Island hotspots are in effect at this time.

Scientist collects rubbish to rid rivers of plastics

16 January 2019

It may be rubbish to everyone else, but to Amanda Valois each little scrap of plastic on a river bank or in a waterway tells a valuable story.

The science of art or the art of science…

11 January 2019

If you think science and art have nothing in common, think again. At environmental science institute NIWA, it’s all about one inspiring the other.

NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 9 January 2019

10 January 2019

A weekly update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent. Regions experiencing these soil moisture deficits are deemed “hotspots”. Persistent hotspot regions have the potential to develop into drought.

The eel earbone detective

9 January 2019

As a young child growing up on an Irish farm, one of Eimear Egan’s chores was to regularly clean out the well from where her family drew its drinking water. In the well lived a large eel that, no matter how many times it was shifted, just kept coming back.

Scientists voyage into the Antarctic unknown

Ross Sea Environment and Ecosystem Voyage 2019

7 January 2019

A group of intrepid scientists leaves Wellington for Antarctica this week on board NIWA’s research vessel Tangaroa for what their leader calls “a voyage of discovery”.

Can a leopard seal change its spots?

3 January 2019

A leopard seal, who has made the balmy waters around Auckland home, is prompting a NIWA scientist to campaign for her to be made a New Zealand citizen.

Underwater magician

28 December 2018

Based at Bream Bay, Whangarei, Crispin Middleton is also an acclaimed underwater photographer and the recipient of numerous photography awards. His work regularly appears in New Zealand Geographic, dive magazines, scientific journals and conservation/ government documents.

NIWA scientist throws light on the Red Zone

21 December 2018

Christchurch’s Red Zone is to be the focal point of a scientific experiment involving street lights and insects over summer. 

NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 19 December 2018

19 December 2018

Across the North Island, soil moisture levels either decreased slightly or remained the same during the past week. Across the South Island, soil moisture remained near normal or above normal in the central and eastern part of the island during the past week while areas in the west have near normal or below normal soil moisture.

Seal-mounted cameras give scientists a glimpse of life under the ice

19 December 2018

A NIWA-led team of marine ecologists are using seal-mounted cameras to get a first-hand view into the behaviour and movements of Weddell seals under the Antarctic ice.

Scientific muscle meets freshwater mussels