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Earth Sciences New Zealand - Latest News [Page 1]
Earth Sciences New Zealand Seasonal Climate Outlook May-July 2026
Friday, 1 May 2026, 9:15 am | Earth Sciences New Zealand
The tropical Pacific continues to progress towards El Niño. There’s about a 65% chance these conditions will form during this period and peak in summer 2026-27. El Niño can have wide impacts. More >>
Formidable El Niño Expected To Arrive This Winter
Wednesday, 29 April 2026, 8:37 am | Earth Sciences New Zealand
There is a greater than 60% probability that the event will be classified as ‘strong’ by spring, with the potential to intensify further later in the year. More >>
NIWA's Hotspot Watch
Thursday, 23 April 2026, 4:02 pm | Earth Sciences New Zealand
As of 20 April, the New Zealand Drought Index (NZDI) map shows that abnormally dry conditions are currently found in coastal Taranaki, and southern Manawatū Whanganui. More >>
NIWA's Hotspot Watch
Friday, 17 April 2026, 4:04 pm | Earth Sciences New Zealand
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”. More >>
NIWA's Hotspot Watch
Friday, 10 April 2026, 6:53 pm | Earth Sciences New Zealand
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”. More >>
A Dry Start To Autumn For Much Of New Zealand
Wednesday, 8 April 2026, 4:24 pm | Earth Sciences New Zealand
The sunniest four regions in 2026 so far are Taranaki (802 hours), Tasman (774 hours), wider Nelson (769 hours), and Auckland (723 hours). More >>
NIWA's Hotspot Watch
Thursday, 2 April 2026, 4:01 pm | Earth Sciences New Zealand
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”. More >>
Earth Sciences New Zealand Seasonal Climate Outlook April-June 2026
Thursday, 2 April 2026, 1:45 pm | Earth Sciences New Zealand
El Niño conditions are looking increasingly likely (about 80% chance later in the year), with a gradual weakening of La Niña influences through this outlook period. More >>
Fifty Years Of Observations, No Reversal Of Glacier Climate Damage
Tuesday, 31 March 2026, 11:52 am | Earth Sciences New Zealand
Researchers carrying out this year’s end-of-summer snowline and glacier survey saw retained snow on some glaciers, but no reversal in the overall trend of ice loss. More >>
NIWA's Hotspot Watch - 6 March 2026
Friday, 6 March 2026, 9:49 am | Earth Sciences New Zealand
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”. More >>
February Dominated By A Historic Storm Mid-Month
Thursday, 5 March 2026, 5:08 pm | Earth Sciences New Zealand
Another low-pressure system with more limited impacts opened the month, and these two depressions dominate the overall monthly pressure anomaly. More >>
Earth Sciences New Zealand Seasonal Climate Outlook March To May 2026
Tuesday, 3 March 2026, 9:42 am | Earth Sciences New Zealand
There is an elevated risk of tropical-influenced weather systems bringing significant rainfall to parts of the North Island, especially at intervals in March and April. More >>
NIWA's Hotspot Watch
Friday, 27 February 2026, 11:25 am | Earth Sciences New Zealand
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”. More >>
NIWA's Hotspot Watch
Thursday, 19 February 2026, 6:29 pm | Earth Sciences New Zealand
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”. More >>
Record-Breaking Sediment Core Provides Unprecedented Evidence Of West Antarctic Ice Sheet Retreat
Wednesday, 18 February 2026, 9:31 am | Earth Sciences New Zealand
This game-changing scientific and technological achievement took place more than 700 km from the nearest Antarctic station (Scott Base), at a deep-field camp at Crary Ice Rise on the edge of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. More >>
January Climate Summary - Record Rainfalls
Tuesday, 10 February 2026, 2:42 pm | Earth Sciences New Zealand
Kaikōura logged 266 mm of rain, which is 562 percent of normal January rainfall, and Tauranga and Whitianga both had 515 percent of their normal rainfall. More >>
NIWA's Hotspot Watch - 5 February 2026
Thursday, 5 February 2026, 2:58 pm | Earth Sciences New Zealand
There are currently no hotspots in the North Island. As of 2 February, the New Zealand Drought Index (NZDI) map shows no abnormally dry conditions anywhere across New Zealand. More >>
Seasonal Climate Outlook February to April 2026
Wednesday, 4 February 2026, 6:11 pm | Earth Sciences New Zealand
Slow-moving high pressure systems early in February should bring periods of traditional summer conditions to many parts of the country, interrupted by some shorter unsettled spells. More >>
Earth Sciences NZ December Climate Summary
Thursday, 8 January 2026, 4:56 pm | Earth Sciences New Zealand
While December featured lower than average air pressures overall, the month was filled with alternating periods of high pressure and low pressure, which led to an uneven distribution of rainfall across the country. More >>
Earth Sciences NZ 2025 Climate Summary
Thursday, 8 January 2026, 11:35 am | Earth Sciences New Zealand
The highest air temperature of the year was 35.6°C recorded at Kawerau on 7 December, and the lowest was -12.9°C recorded at Mt Cook Airport on 8 June. More >>
