News

A weekly update describing soil moisture patterns across the country to show where dry to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent. This is the first Hotspot Watch update for this season.

Earth Sciences New Zealand researchers have used generative AI to produce high-resolution climate projections at a scale previously out of reach, providing a window into future changes in rainfall, temperature and extreme weather events in a warming world. 

The Southwest Pacific could experience at least four severe tropical cyclones reaching category 3 or higher this season, according to the 2026/27 Tropical Cyclone Outlook coordinated by Earth Sciences New Zealand.

New Zealand will feel the impacts of a ‘Very Strong’ El Niño event over spring and summer of 2026/27.

Hoping for a glimpse of the Matariki stars over the long weekend?

Earth Sciences New Zealand has confirmed that El Niño conditions have been reached in the tropical Pacific and are expected to strongly influence New Zealand’s weather into 2027.

A mihi whakatau and wananga were held at Mana Ahuriri Trust headquarters in Ahuriri Napier on 11th May as part of the “Catching Marine Carbon” programme (NIWA project END25304).

Global climate models are now showing a clear consensus for an El Niño event to arrive this winter.

This is the final Hotspot Watch update for this season. The Hotspot Watch will return during spring 2026.

The kick-off meeting for the new $11M 5-year MBIE Endeavour Research Programme “Catching Marine Carbon: Testing Ocean Solutions for Climate Mitigation using Natural Analogues” (NIWA project END25304) was held at Greta Point on 22nd April.

A weekly update describing soil moisture patterns across the country to show where dry to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent.

A weekly update describing soil moisture patterns across the country to show where dry to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent.