MetService & NIWA to collaborate more closely

[TonyT]

From: Kath Allen [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, 27 November 2007 1:38 p.m.
Subject: Hon Hodgson and Mallard: media release MetService & NIWA to collaborate more closely

Embargoed until 2pm today
The MetService and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) have signed an official agreement to work more closely together on forecasting New Zealand’s weather, climate and associated environmental events.

Research, Science and Technology Minister Pete Hodgson and State Owned Enterprises Minister Trevor Mallard say the formal memorandum of understanding will strengthen links between the two organisations to help New Zealanders get more timely and accurate weather information.

“Accurate information about our weather and environment is vital to New Zealanders, especially given that climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our generation”, says Pete Hodgson.

“NIWA has a very important global role in investigating climate change and its effects on future weather patterns. Greater collaboration with MetService will improve the sharing of knowledge from this research and the delivery of weather-related information.”

The agreement is the result of a working group that was established following a July 2006 review into the integration of weather, climate and environmental forecasting.

Trevor Mallard says the closer relationship will strengthen links between NIWA’s environmental research and data gathering resources, and the role of the MetService in weather forecasting.

“We’ve seen how severe weather, such as flooding or cyclones, can have major impacts on some parts of this country, and increased collaboration between these organisations will improve their ability to prepare communities for bad weather.”

The agreement also concludes that introducing legislation to ring-fence their activities would help the two companies deliver greater benefit to New Zealanders through improved forecasting information. The Ministers are currently considering this, and a final decision is due later.
Attached: Final report to Ministers on future collaboration



Katherine Allen
Press Secretary
Office of Hon Pete Hodgson

[TonyT]

Press release from Blue Skies Weather & Climate Services Ltd

Blue Skies welcomes MetService/NIWA agreement

Blue Skies Weather managing director Tony Trewinnard is cautiously optimistic that the memorandum of understanding between MetService and NIWA, announced today, will be of benefit to the weather industry in New Zealand.

“Previously both state owned organizations have soaked up large amounts of tax payer’s money for sometimes questionable benefit to the country”, he said. “The hot air has gone up, but the rain hasn’t always fallen out evenly”.

“This agreement provides a much needed basis for a more transparent and leaner operation of both organizations. There are now a clear set of guidelines for both organizations to follow – the public, and others involved in the weather industry in New Zealand now have a clear view of what the government expects, and a way to test how the SOE and CRI they deliver.”

Mr Trewinnard noted with interest that one of the national benefit objectives of the agreement promises the government will soon see “publicly funded data being available for the cost of provision for other users to add value (benefit B4)”.

“This means that finally, after nearly two decades of independent weather providers banging their heads against the brick wall of data unavailability and research inapplicability, we will finally start to see some benefits flowing outside these two organizations”, he said.

“The agreement clearly allows for other weather providers to benefit from the considerable public money which has flowed into NIWA’s research coffers over the last ten years, and from the government’s annual funding of MetService’s operation through the presently un-contestable crown contract for weather forecasting.”

“Its about time that all tax-paying weather providers in New Zealand, including MetService, get to benefit from the great work NIWA has done in developing a very sophisticated weather forecasting model for the country with tax payer funds.”

Blue Skies Weather is New Zealand’s second largest weather forecast provider, and this year celebrates 21 years in business – a history of service to weather users in the country second only to that of MetService.

[RWood]

Good news. About time some maturity was shown in these matters!

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

I hope this union works and also I must offer congrats to Tony and the team at Blue skies.
21 years and still going strong.
Good on yer, mates

JohnGaul
NZTS

[Willoughby]

Thanks Tony for hammering away at this for literally years.

“Previously both state owned organizations have soaked up large amounts of tax payer’s money for sometimes questionable benefit to the country”, he said. “The hot air has gone up, but the rain hasn’t always fallen out evenly”.

Very well put.

[spwill]

I must offer congrats to Tony and the team at Blue skies.
21 years and still going strong.
Good on yer, mates

Yes, very well done Tony. I hope Blue Skies are around for another 21 years .

[RWood]

Yes, a fine effort from all at Blue Skies.

[Michael]

Yes, very well done Tony. I hope Blue Skies are around for another 21 years .[/quote]

Well should be Grey Skies (Here anyway) for the next 21 years

[spwill]

Michael wrote,

Well should be Grey Skies (Here anyway) for the next 21 years

No but 21 years of you having a winge yes.

[Michael]

Perhaps the priority if the forecasts are more accurate of late,Here its a 30 knot SW not a 15knot NW or W as some forecasts currently still telling us,Rain also was forecasted,been only wind blown drizzle.