News

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

  • Hotspot Watch 22 January 2020

    Hotspot
    A weekly update describing soil moisture patterns across the country to show where dry to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent. Regions experiencing significant soil moisture deficits are deemed “hotspots”. Persistent hotspot regions have the potential to develop into drought.
  • Hotspot Watch 15 January 2020

    Hotspot
    A weekly update describing soil moisture patterns across the country to show where dry to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent. Regions experiencing significant soil moisture deficits are deemed “hotspots”. Persistent hotspot regions have the potential to develop into drought.
  • Under the Antarctic ice

    Feature story
    The rich diversity of marine life near Scott Base in Antarctica has stunned scientists diving under the ice to set up environmental monitoring sites.
  • Hotspot Watch 8 January 2020

    Hotspot
    A weekly update describing soil moisture patterns across the country to show where dry to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent. Regions experiencing significant soil moisture deficits are deemed “hotspots”. Persistent hotspot regions have the potential to develop into drought.
  • Epic spiny red rock lobster

    Feature story
    Sam Fraser-Baxter heads to the Wairarapa for one of New Zealand’s longest-running marine surveys – counting baby lobster.
  • Weathering new technology in Tonga

    Feature story
    There are about 800km between the southern and northern tips of Tonga - and a lot of ocean.
  • Ten years of the weather with you

    Feature story
    In the past 10 years, more weather records have been broken than in any other time in New Zealand’s history.
  • The frozen menagerie

    Feature story
    Just past the locks, alarms and big heavy doors is a rather macabre sight.
  • Hotspot Watch 19 December 2019

    Hotspot
    Across the North Island, moderate to large increases in soil moisture levels were observed in many locations due to substantial rainfall in the past week. Across the South Island, substantial rainfall contributed to moderate to large increases in soil moisture levels in the vast majority of the island.
  • ‘Tis the season for a Christmas weather forecast…

    Media release
    If Santa is quick he can hop on a ridge of high pressure for his big trip to New Zealand very soon.
  • Hotspot Watch 11 December 2019

    Hotspot
    Across the North Island, notable increases in soil moisture levels were observed in the southwest, from Taranaki south to Wellington.
  • Unprecedented carbon monoxide readings measured in Central Otago

    Media release
    Researchers at NIWA’s Lauder atmospheric research station in Central Otago have measured prolonged carbon monoxide concentrations well above normal levels.