Major shakeup for the NZ science system
The government has announced a major restructuring of the country's seven crown research institutes (CRIs), which will see them merged into three public research organisations (PROs).
La Nina-like patterns are currently observed in the tropical Pacific Ocean, says the MetService.
However, the influence from the tropics is likely to be minimal in New Zealand in the short-term.
“The Tasman Sea has been driving most of our weather lately, and this pattern is forecast to continue into November,” says MetService Meteorologist Georgina Griffiths.
“A mixture of low pressures and westerly winds is expected to prevail over New Zealand during November”.
Temperatures are expected to be fairly variable during November. Next week is predicted to be extremely warm for this time of year. For eastern areas of both Islands (Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Marlborough, Canterbury, eastern Otago), and also for Southland, monthly temperatures are predicted to be above average. Elsewhere, November temperatures end up ‘near average,’ overall.
Above normal rainfall is signalled for the West Coast of the South Island. For the eastern regions of both Islands, November rainfall totals should run fairly close to the norm, possibly a hint drier. In all other regions, November should end up slightly on the wet side of the ledger (near normal to above normal totals).
Frequent lows in the New Zealand region left their calling card in October.
Rainfall was abundant in many regions, with the notable exceptions of Wairarapa and southern Hawkes Bay. The North Island copped an unusually wet start to October, as did Nelson and Otago.
“Canterbury and Marlborough also picked up significant totals during October, with 50-80mm of rainfall commonly recorded in these regions,” says Griffiths.
The first half of the month ran unusually warm across the country, but finished with a cooler southerly regime. However, October as a whole ended up on the warm side of the ledger.
On the eve of his departure from Federated Farmers board, Richard McIntyre is thanking farmers for their support and words of encouragement during his stint as a farmer advocate.
A project reducing strains and sprains on farm has won the Innovation category in the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards 2025.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ), in partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and other sector organisations, has launched a national survey to understand better the impact of facial eczema (FE) on farmers.
One of New Zealand's latest and largest agrivoltaics farm Te Herenga o Te Rā is delivering clean renewable energy while preserving the land's agricultural value for sheep grazing under the modules.
Global food company Nestle’s chair Paul Bulcke will step down at its next annual meeting in April 2026.
Brendan Attrill of Caiseal Trust in Taranaki has been announced as the 2025 National Ambassador for Sustainable Farming and Growing and recipient of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the National Sustainability Showcase at in Wellington this evening.
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