MetService
New Zealand’s national meteorological service, responsible for official weather forecasts, warnings and meteorological information.
Last updated October 16, 2026
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Overview
MetService, formally Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited and also known by the Māori name Te Ratonga Tirorangi, is New Zealand’s national meteorological service. It operates as a state-owned enterprise and provides public weather forecasts, official severe-weather warnings and specialist meteorological services under government contracts. Its headquarters are in Wellington, and the organisation employs approximately 300 people according to the referenced Wikipedia material. The modern company was established on 1 July 1992 during a period of public-sector reform. The creation of MetService reflected a shift toward greater commercial autonomy, accountability and user-pays funding for specialist government services, while preserving the state’s responsibility for national forecasting and warnings. The organisation’s institutional history is considerably older: New Zealand’s weather service began in 1861 after a series of shipwrecks led the Government to establish a storm-warning service within the Marine Department. MetService produces forecasts for land, mountains, coastal waters and New Zealand’s wider marine area of responsibility. It issues hazardous-weather warnings, including warnings relevant to strong winds, heavy rain, snow, severe thunderstorms and marine storms. It also provides aviation meteorology, including the functions of a Meteorological Watch Office, volcanic-ash advisory services and operational meteorological data used within international aviation systems. Its marine responsibilities include forecasts and warnings for METAREA XIV, the international marine region covering New Zealand’s area of responsibility. The organisation operates an observation and forecasting infrastructure that contributes to the international meteorological system. It collects surface observations, upper-air measurements, aircraft observations, radar information, voluntary ship observations and data from drifting buoys in the Tasman Sea. Through the World Meteorological Organization’s World Weather Watch programme, selected observations from the New Zealand region are shared with other national meteorological services and fed into numerical weather-prediction systems. MetService combines global numerical weather-prediction guidance with regional modelling and meteorological expertise. Global models are useful for broad weather systems such as highs and lows, while limited-area models help represent local effects associated with New Zealand’s complex geography. The service has used regional modelling configurations based on MM5 and WRF, with nested model domains intended to improve the representation of smaller-scale weather features. Alongside its public-service role, MetService operates an international commercial business under the MetraWeather brand. Wholly owned MetraWeather subsidiaries in Australia, the United Kingdom and Thailand provide weather intelligence, forecasting and information-presentation products to ports, maritime operators, transport and infrastructure organisations, aviation, rail and road operators, energy companies, retailers, logistics businesses and broadcasters. MetraWeather’s Weatherscape XT system is used for weather presentation in broadcast and interactive-media environments. MetService has held ISO 9001 certification since November 1995. It maintains relationships with Pacific meteorological agencies and provides backup support for regional warning responsibilities when the main centre in Nadi, Fiji, is unavailable or when tropical cyclones enter the relevant southern area. In 2024, the New Zealand Government announced plans to bring MetService and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research into a new public research organisation, the New Zealand Institute for Earth Science. The referenced material states that MetService was scheduled to become a subsidiary of NIWA from 1 July 2025, subject to the wider institutional integration process.
History
New Zealand’s national weather service traces its origins to 1861, when a series of shipwrecks prompted the Government to establish a storm-warning service within the Marine Department. The early service was primarily maritime because reliable warnings for ships were an immediate public-safety need. Forecasting remained associated with marine administration until 1926, when it was transferred to the newly created Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. In 1927, Edward Kidson was appointed Dominion Meteorologist by Earnest Marsden. At that time the New Zealand Meteorological Service was a small organisation with only five staff and limited long-term observational records. Its responsibilities and institutional setting changed again during the Second World War. In 1939, forecasting became part of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, reflecting the strategic importance of aviation weather information. The aviation emphasis continued after the war. In 1964 the service moved to the Department of Civil Aviation, which in 1968 became part of the Ministry of Transport, one of the New Zealand Government’s large administrative ministries. During this period the service developed responsibilities extending beyond shipping and aviation, including national observations, public forecasts, weather warnings and meteorological support for government and commercial users. The public-sector reforms of the 1980s created the conditions for the modern organisation. New Zealand faced increasing pressure to reduce or clarify government funding for meteorological services. At the same time, government policy promoted user-pays arrangements, competition in deregulated service markets and greater autonomy and accountability for departments and state entities. These reforms, combined with changes in the public funding of science, led to the creation of MetService as a state-owned enterprise on 1 July 1992. The same year also marked an institutional separation from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, or NIWA. NIWA was established as a separate Crown entity with a focus on long-term weather patterns, climate science and related environmental research, while MetService retained responsibility as the official national forecasting authority. The distinction between operational forecasting and longer-term environmental research did not eliminate competition or disagreement. The organisations subsequently disputed access to material in the former MetService library and sometimes criticised each other’s forecast accuracy. The Government appointed a mediator in 2007, and the two organisations signed a memorandum of understanding in 2009 intended to encourage cooperation, although disagreements continued. MetService expanded its commercial and international activities through the MetraWeather brand. In 2013 it acquired a 49 percent shareholding in MetOcean Solutions Limited, a New Zealand oceanographic-services company specialising in ocean analysis and forecasting for research, ports, offshore oil and gas, and other users. MetraWeather subsidiaries in Australia, the United Kingdom and Thailand serve international customers in transport, aviation, maritime operations, energy, retail, logistics and media. This commercial business operates alongside, rather than replacing, MetService’s statutory and government-funded public forecasting duties. The organisation contributes observations to the World Meteorological Organization’s international weather-data exchange and maintains forecasting links with Pacific Island meteorological agencies. It supports regional warning arrangements by forwarding South Pacific hazardous-weather information and providing backup for the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center in Nadi, Fiji, including circumstances in which a cyclone affects or moves south of the relevant regional boundary. MetService’s relationship with NIWA became a policy issue again during the 2020s. In 2020, Chief Executive Peter Lennox told Parliament that MetService used more weather models and meteorologists and produced more detailed forecasts than NIWA. In 2022, MetService objected to the Department of Conservation purchasing NIWA forecasts for use in parks, arguing that reliance on automated forecasts without professional meteorologist intervention was inappropriate for a public service. After several extreme weather events in 2023, the Government commissioned the Sapere research group to consider how the capabilities of the two organisations could be combined. In May 2024, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Shane Reti announced plans for MetService and NIWA to be integrated into a new public research organisation, the New Zealand Institute for Earth Science. In September 2024, Minister Judith Collins announced that NIWA would acquire MetService to streamline weather forecasting and provide easier access to weather information through a more unified system. MetService welcomed the proposed merger, describing it as an opportunity to connect climate science, forecasting, hydrology and coastal-hazard capabilities. The referenced material states that MetService was scheduled to become a subsidiary of NIWA from 1 July 2025.
- 2025
Scheduled transition to NIWA subsidiary
[1]The referenced material states that MetService was scheduled to become a subsidiary of NIWA from 1 July 2025 as part of the wider earth-science reorganisation.
- 2024
Government announces planned integration with NIWA
[1]The Government announced plans to combine MetService and NIWA within the New Zealand Institute for Earth Science, with NIWA expected to acquire MetService.
- 2013
Investment in MetOcean Solutions
[1]MetService invested in a 49 percent shareholding in MetOcean Solutions, expanding its connection with commercial oceanographic analysis and forecasting.
- 1995
ISO 9001 certification
[1]MetService achieved ISO 9001 certification in November 1995 and has maintained certification according to the referenced material.
- 1992
MetService established as a state-owned enterprise
[1]Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited began operating as a state-owned enterprise on 1 July amid public-sector and user-pays reforms.
- 1968
Civil aviation administration joins the Ministry of Transport
[1]The Department of Civil Aviation became part of the Ministry of Transport, taking the meteorological service into the new ministry.
- 1964
Service moves to the Department of Civil Aviation
[1]The service moved into the civil-aviation administration, reflecting the growing importance of aviation meteorology.
- 1939
Forecasting becomes part of the Royal New Zealand Air Force
[1]At the outbreak of the Second World War, meteorological forecasting was transferred into the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
- 1927
Edward Kidson appointed Dominion Meteorologist
[1]Edward Kidson was appointed Dominion Meteorologist by Earnest Marsden while the service remained a small organisation with limited long-term records.
- 1926
Forecasting moves to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
[1]The weather service ceased to be solely a marine function and became part of the newly formed Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.
Products and positioning
New Zealand’s official, government-owned national weather authority combining public forecasting, hazard warnings, aviation and marine meteorology, international data exchange and commercial weather intelligence.
Public meteorological information
Public weather forecasts
MetService produces routine forecasts for New Zealand communities, including general land forecasts and information for outdoor and mountain users. These services are part of its national public-weather role and are supported by observations, numerical weather-prediction models and professional meteorological analysis.
Weather warnings
Hazardous-weather warnings
The organisation issues official warnings for hazardous weather affecting New Zealand’s land areas and surrounding waters. Warning operations form a core government-funded responsibility and support public safety, emergency management, transport and infrastructure planning.
Marine meteorology
Marine forecasts and warnings
MetService provides forecasts and warnings for coastal waters and for New Zealand’s international marine area of responsibility, known as METAREA XIV. Its marine output includes gale, storm and hurricane warnings as well as marine synopses and operational forecasts.
Aviation meteorology
Aviation meteorological services
MetService is certified by New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority and provides aviation-related meteorological services. These include Meteorological Watch Office functions, operational meteorological data and volcanic-ash advisory services used in international aviation arrangements.
Commercial weather services
MetraWeather weather intelligence
MetraWeather is MetService’s international commercial brand. Through wholly owned operations in Australia, the United Kingdom and Thailand, it supplies weather intelligence and information-presentation products to maritime, aviation, transport, energy, retail, logistics and media customers.
Weather presentation technology
Weatherscape XT
Weatherscape XT is a weather-information presentation system associated with the MetraWeather business. It is designed for broadcast and interactive-media applications, helping organisations present forecasts and meteorological information to audiences.
Forecasting technology
Regional numerical weather prediction
MetService supplements global numerical weather-prediction guidance with limited-area regional models. Configurations based on MM5 and WRF are used to represent weather features affected by New Zealand’s geography, including smaller-scale systems that global models may not resolve well.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020Public weather information and digital-service continuity during cyberattacks
New Zealand
During a wave of distributed denial-of-service attacks affecting several New Zealand organisations, MetService’s website was targeted. The incident highlighted the importance of maintaining access to public forecasts and warnings through digital channels.
Outcome. The referenced material does not specify the full technical response or long-term outcome.
Brand decisions
2024
Support planned integration with NIWAM&ABackground
After extreme weather events in 2023, the Government examined whether MetService and NIWA could combine capabilities in forecasting, climate science, hydrology and coastal hazards.
Action taken
The Government announced that NIWA would acquire MetService and that both organisations would be integrated into a new public research organisation, the New Zealand Institute for Earth Science.
Aftermath
MetService welcomed the proposal as a way to create a more connected weather and environmental information system. The referenced material states that MetService was scheduled to become a NIWA subsidiary from 1 July 2025.
2013
Acquire a minority stake in MetOcean SolutionsM&ABackground
MetOcean Solutions specialised in oceanographic analysis and forecasting for research, ports, offshore oil and gas and other users.
Action taken
MetService invested in a 49 percent shareholding in MetOcean Solutions Limited.
Aftermath
The investment broadened MetService’s links with commercial oceanographic and marine-forecasting services.
1992
Create MetService as a state-owned enterpriseStrategyBackground
Government reforms increased emphasis on user-pays funding, commercial competition, autonomy and accountability in specialist public services.
Action taken
The national meteorological service was incorporated as Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited and began operating as a state-owned enterprise on 1 July 1992.
Aftermath
MetService retained responsibility for official national forecasts and warnings while developing commercial services for domestic and international customers.
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