Update on the Weather Forecasting System Review
The Government has agreed in-principle for work to commence on bringing together the significant capabilities and resources of the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited (NIWA) and the Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited (MetService).
In 2023 the Government commissioned the Weather Forecasting System Review (the Review) to determine the best approach to national weather forecasting in the future.
The Review was undertaken by the Sapere Research Group, with oversight from the Treasury, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the Ministry of Transport. The reviewer engaged with over 50 stakeholders and received significant input from MetService, NIWA and key stakeholders.
Over the coming months, further work to explore the changes necessary to ensure a more integrated weather forecasting system, including exploring the implications of competition, data access and the implementation pathway. Officials will report to shareholding Ministers on this work in 2025.
MetService remains New Zealand’s authorised meteorologist and is responsible for providing warning messages as the authorised voice in times of severe weather, with MetService and NIWA continuing to collaborate closely during these events.
Read the Minister’s announcement: Building a stronger weather forecasting system
The Weather Forecasting System Review Interim and Final Reports can be found on the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment website: Project Hau Nuku: Weather forecasting system review
Terms of Reference
The Terms of Reference for the review are contained in the PDF below:
The review’s focus was to:
- Identify and recommend the optimal arrangements and responsibilities in the weather forecasting system that will best position New Zealand to meet future weather-related challenges and impacts within the context of climate change.
- Based on the system’s optimal arrangements, consider the most appropriate structural configuration in relation to MetService and NIWA.
- Identify whether changes in access to weather data should be considered and if so, what these should be.