Climate & Weather

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

  • Auckland

    Auckland experiences a subtropical climate. The region lies some 13° of latitude south of the Tropic of Capricorn, so tropical plants which are protected for the winter months will flower and fruit in the summer.
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    Climate change poses risk of irreversible impacts: IPCC report

    News article
    Human influence on the climate system is clear and growing, with impacts observed on all continents.
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    Dry spells take hold in South Island

    News article
    Many areas in the South Island are tracking towards record dry spells as relatively warm, dry weather that began in mid-August continues
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    Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce officially launches the Deep South Challenge

    News article
    The Government’s Deep South National Science Challenge provides an unprecedented opportunity for scientific collaboration that will ultimately improve the lives of all New Zealanders.
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    Vehicle Ventilation Model.

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    Prime Minister inspects NIWA product at Fieldays

    News article
    Prime Minister John Key and Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce had a surprise meeting at NIWA's Fieldays stand today.
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    Off to Fieldays? We don’t want to dampen your spirits but…

    News article
    NIWA has a message for opening day visitors to the rural sector’s biggest event of the year: go prepared.
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    Climate outlook for May - July released

    News article
    Our outlooks indicate the likelihood of climate conditions being at, above, or below average for the season as a whole, at a national and regional level.
  • NatHERS climate files 2012

    The Commonwealth of Australia as represented by the Department of Industry (the Commonwealth) has developed Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) climate files 2012 compiled from Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) raw climate data and then used to complete a typical year for every NatHERS climate zone in Australia.
  • Ice divers

    A specialist dive team venture under the Antarctic sea ice to work on an ocean acidification experiment, and they bring back some breath taking video of the environment along the way.
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    New Zealand facing greater weather extremes: international report

    News article
    New Zealand will get hotter, have more heavy rainfalls, and experience more days when the fire risk is extreme, the latest international report on climate change impacts reveals.
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    Media advisory: climate change report

    Media release
    Journalists are advised that the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is to be released in Yokohama, Japan at 1pm (NZ time) on Monday, 31 M