Meteorological Services (Acquisition and Policies) Legislation Amendment Bill
MetService (the government-owned company that provides weather forecasts and severe weather warnings) is being moved out of government ownership and into a new science organisation called NZIES. This bill makes the legal changes needed to allow that transfer to happen. It also requires NZIES to publicly publish a policy explaining how people and businesses can access raw weather data collected by instruments like rain gauges and weather stations.
What this affects
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Businesses and researchers will be able to see a published policy explaining how to access raw weather data and what it costs.
The New Zealand Institute for Earth Science must publish an access policy for observational weather data on an Internet site that it maintains or that is maintained on its behalf.
pricing principles for access to observational weather data (which do not need to include detailed pricing calculations)
any differences under paragraphs (a) to (c) for commercial, non-commercial, or other classes of users
Progress through Parliament
Have your say
This bill is open for public submissions to the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee. Anyone can tell the committee what they think, and you don’t need to be an expert. Submissions close 13 January 2026.
Bill text sourced from legislation.govt.nz (Parliamentary Counsel Office). Arapono’s summary and breakdown are drafted with AI grounded in that official text and reviewed by an Arapono editor for accuracy and neutrality before publishing. Arapono is non-partisan and takes no position on this bill.