Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/33023-monitoring-of-ship-emissions-plumes on December 18, 2025 16:39

Monitoring of Ship Emissions/Plumes

Nigel Gray made this Official Information request to National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited

Currently waiting for a response from National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited, they must respond promptly and normally no later than (details and exceptions).

From: Nigel Gray

Dear National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited,

Dear NIWA,

This is a request under the Official Information Act 1982.

I have geo-located a vessel producing significant visible plumes over New Zealand, with coverage large enough to potentially influence local weather. To clarify the scope of my request, I seek information on scientific monitoring and atmospheric data relevant to this phenomenon.

Specifically, I request:

1. Any monitoring systems, datasets, or responsibilities NIWA has regarding atmospheric emissions, plumes, or cloud formation from ships entering New Zealand’s territorial waters (within 12 nautical miles).
2. Any monitoring systems, datasets, or responsibilities NIWA has regarding atmospheric emissions, plumes, or cloud formation from ships operating in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (12–200 nautical miles).
3. Any reports, datasets, or scientific studies held by NIWA relating to ship emissions, plumes, or cloud formation observed in New Zealand waters.
4. Any research projects, modelling, or atmospheric studies conducted by NIWA that consider the impact of ship emissions or plumes on cloud formation and weather in New Zealand.
5. Any correspondence between NIWA and other agencies (e.g. Ministry for the Environment, EPA, Maritime NZ) relating to ship emissions, plumes, or cloud formation.

If any of the above categories of information are not held, please confirm this explicitly under section 18(e) of the Act. If information is withheld, please specify the precise section of the Act relied upon, as required under section 19.

Yours sincerely,
Nigel

Yours faithfully,

Nigel Gray

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From: Enquiries
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited

Thank you for your e-mail to Enquiries at NIWA.  We have received your
query and will respond as soon as possible.

Kind regards

Enquiries

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From: Melissa Bray
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited

Kia ora Nigel,

Thank you for your email. We acknowledge receipt of your OIA request below.

We will respond as soon as possible and no later than 16 January 2025, being 20 working days after the day your request was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.

Nâku, nâ
Melissa

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From: Melissa Bray
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited

Kia ora Nigel

Thank you for your OIA request.

For question 5 please refine your request as in its present form our search would return a large amount of correspondence including all correspondence that relates to ship emissions, plumes an cloud formation. To refine, for example, add a time frame, be more specific with the agency you are interested in, reduce the number of key words to search. Any kind of information to help us find exactly what you are after would be great. Also if you'd like to call, please let me know.

Ngâ mihi
Melissa

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Things to do with this request

Anyone:
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited only: