News

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

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Seen a stunning sunrise or sunset lately? The Tongan volcano may be the cause

Media Release
15 June 2022
The Tongan volcanic eruption may be responsible for New Zealand’s unusually vibrant sunrises and sunsets, say NIWA scientists.

In the snow: new tool to advise New Zealanders of snow conditions

Media Release
10 June 2022
A new tool giving near real-time snow data has been made available to the public for the first time.

Demand grows for NIWA’s Riparian Management Training

Media Release
9 June 2022
NIWA has updated and restarted a course using a riparian planning tool developed by one of its former chief scientists more than 20 years ago.

Ki uta ki tai: NIWA’s role in mountains-to-sea estuarine management

Media Release
9 June 2022
Estuaries are coastal waterbodies where freshwater mixes with seawater. Many estuaries in Aotearoa New Zealand have been impacted by pollutants and contaminants entering via freshwater.

Going easy on the scallops

Feature story
31 May 2022
From scallop beds to trawl nets, a little bit of data science can make a big difference. Melissa Bray explains.

What’s in a fish’s ear?

Feature story
31 May 2022
The tiny ear bone of a fish holds a wealth of information. Gather enough and you get a snapshot of what’s happening beneath the waves. Stuart Mackay explains.

The search for answers in the ice

Feature story
31 May 2022
Jessica Rowley talks to three NIWA researchers trying to piece together what’s happening to the world’s largest ice shelf.

Snapped! Tag reveals fish’s 20-year history

Media Release
31 May 2022
A fish has been caught in the same location that it was tagged, nearly 20 years ago to the day.

A Hard Rain’s A’Gonna Fall

Feature story
31 May 2022
Climate change means more intense storm systems are on their way. Science can’t stop it raining, but it can help communities prepare for the worst and plan for the future.

Tracking an eruption

Feature story
30 May 2022
Stacy Mohan looks at how the shockwaves from a remote Tongan island rippled through NIWA’s research community.

Chasing deepsea shadows

Feature story
30 May 2022
Mia Blyth catches up with a marine biologist hunting for ocean ghosts.

Tonga eruption discoveries defy expectations

Media Release
23 May 2022
New findings from the record-breaking Tongan volcanic eruption are “surprising and unexpected”, say scientists from New Zealand’s National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA).

Hotspot Watch 20 May 2022

Hot spot
20 May 2022
A weekly update describing soil moisture patterns across the country to show where dry to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent. Regions experiencing significant soil moisture deficits are deemed “hotspots”. Persistent hotspot regions have the potential to develop into drought. This will be the final update of the Hotspot Watch for this season. Weekly Hotspot Watch updates will resume in the spring.

Removing barriers to ensure freshwater fish can complete their life cycle

Media Release
19 May 2022
New Zealand has just over 50 native freshwater fish species. Of these, 85 % are endemic and 75 % are deemed to be at risk of decline or are threatened.

Hotspot Watch 13 May 2022

Hot spot
13 May 2022
A weekly update describing soil moisture patterns across the country to show where dry to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent.

Anchors cause “extensive, persistent” damage to seafloor

Media Release
12 May 2022
High-resolution mapping has produced the first ever global estimates of coastal habitat damage caused by anchoring.

Survey provides snapshot of harbour’s health

10 May 2022
Greater Wellington Regional Council regularly assess sediment quality and seafloor community health in the subtidal areas of Te Awarua-o-Porirua (Porirua Harbour) and Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington Harbour).

Guide explores the benefits of combating marine biofouling

10 May 2022
NIWA is contributing to an international effort to help developing countries reduce the impact of biofouling on aquatic-based industries and environments.

Hotspot Watch 6 May 2022

Hot spot
6 May 2022
A weekly update describing soil moisture patterns across the country to show where dry to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent. Regions experiencing significant soil moisture deficits are deemed “hotspots”. Persistent hotspot regions have the potential to develop into drought.

Hotspot Watch 29 April 2022

Hot spot
29 April 2022
A weekly update describing soil moisture patterns across the country to show where dry to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent. Regions experiencing significant soil moisture deficits are deemed “hotspots”. Persistent hotspot regions have the potential to develop into drought.

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