Community invited to visit Niwa’s $2.5m field office

The Twizel community will get a chance to visit Niwa’s new $2.5 million purpose-built field office next month.

The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research’s new facility supports environmental monitoring stations across the Mackenzie country, from Burke’s Pass in the northeast to Lindis Pass in the southwest, Warrick Johnston, Niwa’s general manager for technology and innovation said.

The Twizel office was officially opened on October 13, 2021, with a dawn blessing carried out by Ngāi Tahu kaikarakia Tewera King and Justin Tipa. They were accompanied by whānau from the three rūnanga for Te Manahuna (the Mackenzie area) Te Rū nanga o Moeraki, Te Rū nanga o Arowhenua and Te Rū nanga o Waihao.

Niwa staff moved out of their previous buildings at Tekapo as they were old, circa 1960s timber weatherboard houses and were considered ‘‘functionally obsolete’’.

Johnston said scientists and technicians will show the Twizel community the equipment and technology inside the building and how it works at the open day on December 9.

People will also have a chance to look at Niwa’s jets boats, drones and the various sensors they use.

‘‘It’s a chance for the community to take a look inside the new office,’’ Johnston said.

‘‘It was open sometime ago, and it’s really a chance for the local schools and community to take a look inside.’’

He said since it opened, the new field office had ‘‘been excellent’’, and they have increased the number of