ANNUAL REPORT NIWA 2013/14 Q Enhancing the benefits of New Zealand’s natural resources Cover Q. How is NIWA translating forecast data generated by its supercomputer FitzRoy into meaningful and relevant weather information for New Zealanders? A. In early 2014, meteorologist and weather communicator Chris Brandolino joined NIWA’s weather and climate team. Chris has wide international experience explaining the weather using a style and language that engages and makes sense to his audience. NIWA’s goal is to greatly improve the relevance of weather information communicated to the New Zealand public, shifting the focus from forecasting weather alone (“expect rain this afternoon”) to forecasting the impacts of weather on lives and livelihoods (“get the washing dry, or fertilise your pasture, this morning”). NIWA has also increased its capacity in other areas of weather communication – including graphics production – to help translate FitzRoy’s sophisticated technical outputs into meaningful public information. Inside Cover Q. How is NIWA helping farmers improve productivity and reduce risk? A. At the 2014 National Fieldays at Mystery Creek, NIWA launched NIWAFarmMet, a new subscription-based, online weather forecasting and information service tailored to New Zealand farmers (read more on page 33 and visit farmmet.niwa.co.nz). NIWAFarmMet is designed to help farmers identify opportunities to carry out key weather-dependent activities like fertilising, irrigating and harvesting, and prepare for potentially damaging weather like high winds, frosts and floods. Its forecasts are highly localised, rather than tailored to an entire region or the nearest big town, and presented in easy-to-interpret graphical form. NIWA staff demonstrated the product to hundreds of farmers at Fieldays, along with other aspects of its growing suite of weather and climate services. Introducing the face of FitzRoy G. 41 NIWA Forecaster Chris Brandolino presenting the weather and discussing its impacts on New Zealanders. CONTENTS NIWA Annual Report 2013/14 3 Chairman’s report 5 Chief Executive’s report 11 Financial summary 15 Our science 21 Aquatic resources 25 Renewable energy 29 Weather and climate hazards 33 Climate variability and change 37 Freshwater and marine ecosystems 41 Antarctica and the Southern Ocean 45 Benefits of core funding investment 53 Valuing our people 58 Our values 60 NIWA Excellence Awards 63 NIWA Photography Awards 70 Board of Directors 72 Executive Team 74 Science Management Team 76 Operations Management Team 79 Financial information IBC Directory Cover Dave Allen Inside cover David Hamilton Left to Right John Morgan – Chief Executive Chris Mace – Chairman CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Science and prosperity A recent poll asking New Zealanders who they would like to represent them in Parliament had scientists and doctors at the top of the list. The public want representatives who can talk about important issues at ease, in a professional and a social setting. For those of us who have the privilege of working within the science community, this comes as no surprise. Scientific discovery and its application are already having a profound impact on New Zealand’s economic, environmental and social prosperity – and they are set to contribute significantly more. Our Government, local authorities and industry are all increasingly relying on scientific evidence to make key decisions – and NIWA often finds itself central to that decision-making process. That’s not a surprise, given NIWA is the nation’s foremost expert in freshwater, oceans and climate science – all areas that sit at the heart of New Zealand’s economy and lifestyle. The introduction over the past year of the Government’s National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, the deliberations of the Environmental Protection Agency on proposals to sustainably utilise our freshwater and marine resources, and the agricultural sector’s increasing take-up of higher-resolution weather forecasting are all examples of NIWA’s science having a direct impact on our nation’s prosperity. There is no doubt that economic and environmental prosperity must go hand-in-hand in New Zealand. Politicians, business leaders and the public all know that a social licence to operate is every bit as important as complying with the law. This is increasingly evident in the commercial sectors we serve as they seek to get a better understanding of the measures they can take to ensure their activities are conducted in an environmentally responsible way. As a consequence, we have directed our science to better serve the needs of the business community to help grow the economy, while at the same time maintaining our focus on public-good science for the benefit of all New Zealanders. National Science Challenges I commented last year on the Government’s initiative to establish National Science Challenges designed to serve and solve the nation’s biggest concerns. This year, proposals responding to the challenges were considered by the Government, with a number being approved, and I’m pleased that NIWA has been designated as the host of two of them: ‘Sustainable Seas’, which will enhance utilisation of our marine CHAIRMAN’S REPORT • 3 Dave Allen resources within environmental and biological constraints, and ‘Deep South’, which will help us understand the role of the Antarctic and the Southern Ocean in determining our climate and our future environment. The success of these NIWA-led proposals is testimony not just to the relevance and capability of our science, but also to the contribution and collaboration of a number of other science providers. They have enthusiastically worked with us to bring to bear the best capability New Zealand and its international science collaborators have to respond to the nation’s challenges. NIWA is also a key collaborator in three other National Science Challenges being led by other Crown Research Institutes: ‘New Zealand’s Biological Heritage’ being led by Landcare Research, ‘Resilience to Nature’s Challenges’ being led by GNS Science, and ‘Our Land and Water’ being led by Dave Allen AgResearch. NIWA is committed to backing each of these proposals with the full force of our specialist science capability where it is required. It goes without saying that the more research we do, the more certain we can become, and the clearer we can be Dealing with uncertainty about the results. Our clients share this view – this year saw a continued increase in the demand for our research and New Zealand’s economy and lifestyle are largely driven by its applied-science services, which resulted in an increase in environment and climate, which present many opportunities revenue and provided the foundation for another very positive and challenges. Perhaps the biggest challenge is how we deal performance, both scientifically and financially. with the uncertainty that goes with understanding biological systems. Making decisions that involve assessing the impact I offer my thanks to my fellow directors for their efforts over of a growing population and economy on our biodiversity the course of the year. I particularly note the contributions of and environment will require judgement based on the best departing directors Ed Johnson and Helen Robinson. Both Ed knowledge available. That’s where science is critical, because and Helen have contributed significantly to NIWA’s ongoing it reduces uncertainty – but it won’t always eliminate it. development and success, using their respective skills and wisdom. We are pleased to welcome Mr Nick Main and This year we have, again, witnessed advocacy groups Prof. Gillian Lewis to NIWA’s Board of Directors. questioning the integrity of science and scientists – primarily because the science didn’t support their own positions I thank John Morgan, the Executive Team, and all NIWA staff or values. This usually involves protagonists magnifying for their hard work over this year. It has been a pleasure to uncertainties in science rather than highlighting the certainties. see both the work of management and the work of science With the heightened interest in water quality, the impact succeed simultaneously. You have shown how applied of a changing climate, and the growing use of our marine science pays dividends for clients and the nation. resources, NIWA often finds itself at the centre of emotionally We can all be very proud of our significant contributions to charged issues. We will not, however, shy away from the the nation’s economic and environmental prosperity. I have difficult conversations or be intimidated by those who seek to complete confidence in our ability to continue to deliver discredit our science just because they don’t agree with it. world-class research and applied-science services. We have We, like the vast majority of science organisations, are a year in front of us that is full of challenge and opportunity, absolutely clear that we must seek to ensure that the which we face with considerable enthusiasm. conduct and results of our research are sacrosanct and unimpeachable. We do not advocate a cause; we do not compromise our results; we outline what the science tells us. Our value to our clients and the nation is the integrity of our work and the integrity of our people. We can help by improving our explanation of scientific results, and while I am proud of the public outreach of our scientists, who describe their work in terms of risks and probabilities, and explain what we know, we will continue to improve this Chris Mace important aspect of our role. Chairman 4 • CHAIRMAN’S REPORT CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT Stephen Barker Stephen Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce tries his hand at public weather forecasting during a visit to NIWA’s stand at Fieldays 2014. In sync with the times An underlying aspect of NIWA’s culture in recent years has been ensuring that our research and applied-science services remain relevant and at the forefront of this fast-changing world.