Flooding

Latest news

NIWA has launched a $5 million per year package of new projects aiming to tackle some of New Zealand’s most pressing challenges, including responding to and preparing for extreme weather events.
New maps from NIWA and the Deep South National Science Challenge show areas across Aotearoa New Zealand that could be inundated by extreme coastal flooding.
NIWA meteorologists say last week’s atmospheric river (AR), which was responsible for widespread devastation in both the North and South Islands, was a record-breaker.
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.

Our work

This research project aims to establish connections between weather and river flow forecasting, inundation prediction, and the associated risks to people and assets, using the RiskScape platform.

Latest videos

Mā te haumaru ō nga puna wai ō Rākaihautū ka ora mo ake tonu: Increasing flood resilience across Aotearoa

This five-year NIWA-led research programme is developing a system to map flood hazard consistently across the whole country. It will reveal how our flood risk might change over the next 100 years because of changes to rainfall and sea level from climate change, as well as due to land-use changes. Find out more.

Edgecumbe Flood Damage

NIWA and GNS scientists recently visited Edgecumbe to assess flood damage in the area. In this video, local residents show the flood impacts on property, and hazards engineer Kate Crowley talks about flood scenario research.

Heavy rainfall is one of the most frequent and widespread severe weather hazards to affect New Zealand. It is defined as rainfall greater than 100 mm in 24 hours.

We know that flooding can occur during periods of heavy rainfall. But what actually takes places above and below ground, and how is it different from normal rainfall conditions?

Our interactive graphic below will help you understand.

Click on the "Show/hide flood conditions" button to see either normal or flooding conditions. Click on the "Captions" button to see descriptions for what is happening in normal and flooding conditions.

Edgecumbe Flood Damage

NIWA and GNS scientists recently visited Edgecumbe to assess flood damage in the area. In this video, local residents show the flood impacts on property, and hazards engineer Kate Crowley talks about flood scenario research.

Scientists will be knocking on doors in Edgecumbe next week seeking to survey the damage done to buildings from recent flooding caused when a stopbank on the Rangitaiki River breached.

Welcome to Freshwater Update 57, with the latest info from our Freshwater and Estuaries centre.

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All staff working on this subject

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Hazard and Risk Analyst
Principal Scientist - Climate
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Hydrodynamics Scientist
Regional Manager - Christchurch
Principal Scientist - Natural Hazards and Hydrodynamics
Principal Scientist - Natural Hazards and Hydrodynamics
Hydrology Scientist
Hydrodynamics Scientist
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