National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd (NIWA)

The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited (NIWA) is a Crown Research Institute incorporated as a company on 1 July 1992. Ownership is held equally between two shareholding Ministers appointed by the New Zealand Government and governed by a Crown-appointed Board of Directors.

The Shareholders' expectations of NIWA are contained in the Statement of Core Purpose that defines our purpose, expected outcomes, scope of operation and operating principles (Statement of Core Purpose | NIWA). The Statement of Corporate Intent (SCI) sets out NIWA's strategy for delivering against this core purpose over the next five years. The SCI is reviewed annually.

NIWA’s climate and atmosphere, freshwater, marine and advanced technologies capability is provided by more than 650 staff and $200 million of assets located in four main centres and 10 regional offices. NIWA also maintains nationally important databases, biological collections, science assets and capabilities that enable it and its collaborators to undertake much of its science. These include the national climate, atmospheric, marine and freshwater monitoring networks and databases, deep-sea research vessels, high performance computing and big data analytics facilities, the nation’s primary finfish aquaculture research facility, and a range of specialist analytical and modelling capabilities unique to NIWA.

NIWA’s mission is to guide the nation to a prosperous and resilient future by growing the economy; protecting people; assets and ecosystems; and responding to environmental change. We aim to provide advice or solution that help all Nwe Zealanders meet environmental sustainability goals and to conduct our own activities with the lightest possible environmental footprint.