News

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

  • The science of art or the art of science…

    Feature story
    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

    Hotspot
    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

    Feature story
    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

    Media release
    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”.
    Ross Sea Environment and Ecosystem Voyage 2019
  • Can a leopard seal change its spots?

    Feature story
    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

    Feature story
    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

    Feature story
    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

    Hotspot
    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

    Feature story
    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

    Feature story
    NIWA scientists have made an important breakthrough in the battle to save New Zealand’s freshwater mussels.
  • NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 12 December 2018

    Hotspot
    The driest soils across the North Island compared to normal for this time of the year are found in an area stretching from coastal Manawatu-Whanganui northeast to Taupo. The driest soils across the South Island compared to normal for this time of the year are found in far southern Westland District. A small hotspot has emerged in Nelson in the past week.
  • NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 6 December 2018

    Hotspot
    A new hotspot emerged in the Rangitikei District in Manawatu-Wanganui during the past week. This is the only current hotspot in the North Island. There are currently no hotspots in the South Island.