Climate & Weather

Understanding our variable and changing climate is critical for managing resources and reducing risks.

Drought forecasting dashboard

NIWA and MPI are working together to develop a new drought forecasting tool. It uses innovative climate modelling, the latest in machine learning and other data-driven techniques to predict rainfall 35 days ahead. It will help farmers and growers better prepare for periods of dryness and drought.

Climate and weather

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  • Link to source page

    Scientists attribute rising methane levels to agriculture

    Media release
    11 March 2016
    A breakthrough in understanding about the causes of climate change has today been published online in the prestigious international journal Science.
    Agriculture
    Greenhouse and trace gases

  • Link to source page

    Scientists rediscover New Zealand’s first weather diaries

    Media release
    09 March 2016
    NIWA climate scientists studying the diaries of an early English missionary stationed in the Far North have found the oldest surviving long-term instrumental weather records made in New Zealand.

  • Link to source page

    NIWA's Hotspot Watch 4 March 2016

    Hotspot
    04 March 2016
    Across the northern North Island, soil moisture levels have generally remained the same or increased slightly when compared to this time last week.

  • Link to source page

    Tapping into nature’s archive of change

    Feature story
    29 February 2016
    NIWA scientists are tapping into nature’s archives to understand our abrupt climate changes.

  • Link to source page

    NIWA's Hotspot Watch

    Hotspot
    26 February 2016
    On the North Island, soil moisture levels have generally remained the same or increased when compared to this time last week.

  • Link to source page

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    Tropical Cyclone Winston Update #3

    News article
    24 February 2016
    Tropical Cyclone Winston is showing some signs of weakening as of this morning, now located about 600km southeast of Vanuatu’s southernmost islands.

  • Link to source page

    Tropical Cyclone Winston Update #2

    News article
    23 February 2016
    NIWA meteorologists continue to monitor the progression of Tropical Cyclone Winston.

  • Link to source page

    NIWA's Hotspot Watch

    Hotspot
    19 February 2016
    Changes in soil moisture levels across the North Island vary when compared to this time last week, with a mixture of both increased and decreased moisture.

  • Link to source page

    Rain, Sandflies and Takahē

    Takahē Valley in the Murchison Mountains is home to a successful Takahē recovery project run by the Department of Conservation.

  • Link to source page

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    Tropical cyclone update #2

    News article
    15 February 2016
    Niwa meteorologists continue to cast a watchful eye over two strengthening tropical cyclones in the South Pacific.

  • Link to source page

    NIWA's Hotspot Watch

    Hotspot
    12 February 2016
    A weekly update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent.

  • Link to source page

    Tropical cyclone update #1

    News article
    11 February 2016
    NIWA meteorologists are monitoring the potential for ex-tropical cyclones to affect New Zealand early next week.