News

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

  • Hotspot Watch 28 November 2019

    Hotspot
    Across the North Island, soil moisture levels decreased island-wide during the past week due to meagre rainfall and above average temperatures.
  • Hotspot Watch 20 November 2019

    Hotspot
    Across the North Island, soil moisture levels increased in many places during the past week. In the South Island, soil moisture levels generally decreased in the east and a slightly increased in the west.
  • Hotspot Watch 14 November 2019

    Hotspot
    Across the North Island, moderate to large increases in soil moisture levels were observed in most locations due to substantial rainfall in the past week. In the South Island, soil moisture levels increased everywhere during the past week, and significantly so in many places.
  • Hotspot Watch 6 November 2019

    Hotspot
    Across the North Island, soil moisture levels decreased everywhere during the past week due to meagre rainfall and above average temperatures. The most significant decreases were observed across the northern half of the North Island, where soil moisture levels are now below normal nearly everywhere from Northland to Waikato and Bay of Plenty.
  • Hotspot Watch 1 November 2019

    Hotspot
    Across the North Island, soil moisture levels generally decreased slightly during the past week. In the South Island, soil moisture levels decreased slightly in most locations during the past week, although slight increases were observed in coastal Otago and Southland.
  • NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 1 May 2019

    Hotspot
    Hotspots in the North Island are currently found in Aupouri Peninsula, interior Manawatu-Whanganui, and interior Hawke’s Bay. South Island hotspots are currently found in interior Marlborough, a small area near Christchurch, coastal southern Canterbury, and a portion of Stewart Island.
  • NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 17 April 2019

    Hotspot
    Across the North Island, soil moisture levels generally changed little during the past week. In the South Island, increases were observed along most of the West Coast, interior Otago, and Marlborough Sounds, while decreases occurred in Stewart Island.
  • NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 10 April 2019

    Hotspot
    Across the North Island, soil moisture levels decreased in big parts of the island during the past week due to meagre rainfall. In the South Island, soil moisture decreases were observed across much of the island.
  • NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 4 April 2019

    Hotspot
    An increase in soil moisture in many areas across the North Island, including Northland, Auckland, Waikato, eastern Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, and Taranaki. No significant change in the South Island. Outlook is for low to moderate rainfall, countrywide.
  • NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 29 March 2019

    Hotspot
    Hotspots continue to be found across a large part of Northland, Auckland, northern Waikato, and interior Bay of Plenty, as well as central Manawatu-Whanganui and Napier south to Wairarapa. South Island hotspots are currently located in a portion of interior Marlborough, eastern Banks Peninsula, south coastal Otago and parts of lower Southland.
  • NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 20 March 2019

    Hotspot
    Hotspots are now located across the majority of Northland, Auckland, northern Waikato, and interior Bay of Plenty, as well as central Manawatu-Whanganui and Napier south to Wairarapa. South Island hotspots are now located in a portion of interior Marlborough, eastern Banks Peninsula, and the lower Southland coast.
  • NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 13 March 2019

    Hotspot