Information about our varying climate is critical for managing resources and reducing risks.
Climate
Climate
Information about our varying climate is critical for managing resources and reducing risks.
Climate change
Climate change effects are accelerating, driving the need for actions informed by sound climate knowledge.
Feature
National and regional climate maps
Maps of average annual rainfall, temperature and other climate variables have been produced for all of New Zealand, based on the period 1981–2010.
Projections of how climate change is likely to affect New Zealand.
Find information about New Zealand's temperature record and climate change in our information and resources section.
The record summer of 2017/18
30 April 2018
Less than a week before the official end of summer on 28 February, temperatures dropped and a cool breeze made a whistle-stop tour of the country.
Special Climate Statement - record warmth in the Tasman Sea, New Zealand and Tasmania
27 March 2018
Sea surface temperatures in the southern Tasman Sea rose to exceptionally high levels in late 2017 and early 2018. These temperatures were far above any others previously observed at that time of year in the region, and extended west from New Zealand to Tasmania and mainland southeast Australia. In parallel with this, land temperatures were well above average in areas near the Tasman Sea warm anomalies, with many records set both in New Zealand and in southeast Australia (especially Tasmania).
Download: Special Climate Statement - record warmth in the Tasman Sea, New Zealand and Tasmania [PDF, 1.5MB]
NIWA urges farmers to prepare for climate change
6 June 2018
NIWA is encouraging farmers to plan for climate change so they can maximise their abilities to adapt and thrive as significant change begins to take place.
Solutions: Regional climate change
20 April 2018
As climate change takes hold, regional council planning, sustainability and hazard managers are looking to NIWA for help to understand how their communities will be affected.
