Earth Sciences New Zealand

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Driving economic growth and wellbeing through increasing returns from the use of New Zealand's natural resources and environments, enhancing energy security, building hazard resilience and increasing prosperity in a changing climate.

Established 1 July 2025 by the merger of GNS Science and NIWA, and incorporating the scientific expertise and research services provided by both organisations.

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13 July 2026

Core workshop findings indicate past Ross Ice Shelf collapse and West Antarctic Ice Sheet retreat

Analysis of a 228m Antarctic sediment core retrieved by an Earth Sciences New Zealand co-led team finds a record of an open marine environment, far closer to the centre of West Antarctica than has been seen before.

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9 July 2026

Much of New Zealand in for stargazing success this Matariki weekend

New Zealanders hoping for a glimpse of the Matariki stars over the long weekend will have mostly good conditions, except in the east of the North Island, according to Earth Sciences New Zealand’s 2026 Matariki cloud cover forecast.

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storm wellington south coast DSC4857 credit dave allen NIWA

9 July 2026

Some regions expected to be hit harder than others, as flood damage to infrastructure grows

New research by Earth Sciences New Zealand, commissioned by the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, explores how flood damage to infrastructure could change under different climate scenarios.

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wairarapa drought 2013 dsc 1238 credit dave allen niwa

2 July 2027

El Niño declared, expected to intensify into one of the strongest on record

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

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22 May 2026

Celebrating 100 years of science impact

A nationwide campaign launching today celebrates a century of publicly funded science in Aotearoa New Zealand and showcases how research and innovation have shaped our economy, environment, health and everyday life.

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20 May 2026

Blue cod researchers need fishers’ help in Marlborough Sounds

Fishers who catch blue cod in the Marlborough Sounds are invited to take part in a new blue cod release research project with Earth Sciences NZ.

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28 May 2026

Earth Sciences New Zealand and Ara Ake join forces to accelerate geoheat with new action plan

Earth Sciences New Zealand and Ara Ake, New Zealand’s energy innovation centre, have released the 2026–2027 Geoheat Action Plan, designed to rapidly grow the use of geoheat throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. Geoheat refers to heat below 150°C and has many p

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