On 1 July 2025, NIWA merged with GNS Science to become Earth Sciences New Zealand.

  • Dry stock

    Dry stock farming consists predominantly of pasture grazing beef cattle, sheep, and deer for meat, wool, and velvet production.
  • (no image provided)

    Tuna - spawning grounds

    All species of freshwater tuna spawn at sea, although the spawning grounds of only four species are known with certainty worldwide.
  • Dry stock farming activities

    Dry stock farms can cover large areas of hill-country grassland that may be steep and prone to erosion.
  • (no image provided)

    Canterbury

  • (no image provided)

    Graphing with Microsoft Excel

    How do I create a graph?
    Using Microsoft® Excel is easy because the Chart Wizard does all the work for you!
    Simply enter the data for your data table.
    Highlight the cells you want to graph.
    Click on the Chart Wizard icon on the Tool Bar.
    Select the chart type you want to use and click Next.
    Click Next to confirm the range of cells.
    Give your graph a title, label x- and y-axis and click Next.
    Click on the gridlines tab to remove or add gridlines.
    Click Finish and graph is complete!
    Help, my graph is too small!
    When the chart wizard creates your graph it will probably be too smal
  • UV Index at Leigh - 17 October 2023

    Today's UV Index

    Today's UV Index
  • (no image provided)

    Kōaro

    Kōaro are excellent climbers and like clear, swiftly flowing, forested streams.
  • Working with schools

    We sponsor regional science and technology fairs around New Zealand and support learning programmes that bring science into the classroom.
  • (no image provided)

    Mean monthly wet-days

    These datasets are available in a range of formats.
  • (no image provided)

    Map I South

    Education Resource
    The climate of this zone is largely dependent on the lie of the Southern Alps to the west, but many areas are also sheltered by high country to the south and east.
  • (no image provided)

    Definitions of drought

    There are several definitions of drought, depending upon whether it is viewed as a hazard or a risk.
  • Tornado damage Whenuapai.

    Extreme weather - winds and tornadoes

    Education Resource
    Due to its position in the 'Roaring Forties', a belt of strong winds in the Southern Hemisphere which generally occur between the latitudes of 40 and 49 degrees, as well as its small size, New Zealand is a windy country.