The tables below outline the current frequency of issue of aviation weather information in New Zealand.

Note: All issue and validity times are UTC.

Learn more about AAW 

Areas Issue times1 Validity period1 Validity period (hrs)
17 Areas in NZ (previously the ARFOR areas) 1100
2100
1200 - 0600
2100 - 1200
18
15

1Issue and validity times one hour earlier during NZDT.

 

Learn more about GNZSIGWX

Area Issue times Validity period Validity period (hrs)
NZZC FIR

1400
2000
0200
0800

1500-21001, 2100-0300
2100-03001, 0300-0900
0300-09001, 0900-1500
0900-15001, 1500-2100
6, 6
6, 6
6, 6
6, 6

1 Update of previously issued chart.

Learn more about GRAFOR

Area Issue times1 Valid times1 Validity period2
New Zealand
(NZZC FIR)
1100
2100
1800, 0000, 0600
0000, 0600, 1200
+/- 3 hours
+/- 3 hours

1Issue and validity times one hour earlier during NZDT.

2Forecasts have a validity of +/- 3 hours of the stated valid times.

Learn more about GRIB

Areas Issue times Valid times Issue frequency
GRIB

Wind, Temperature, Humidity, Icing, Turbulence, CB cloud and Tropopause)
0430 0600, 0900, 1200, 1500, 1800, 2100, 0000, 0300, 0600, 0900, 1200 Daily
1030 1200, 1500, 1800, 2100, 0000, 0300, 0600, 0900, 1200, 1500 1800 Daily
1630 1800, 2100, 0000, 0300, 0600, 0900, 1200, 1500, 1800, 2100, 0000 Daily
2230 0000, 0300, 0600, 0900, 1200, 1500, 1800, 2100, 0000, 0300, 0600 Daily

Learn more about METAR, SPECI and METAR-AUTO

NZAA, NZWN, and NZCH

Aerodromes METAR AUTO SPECI
AA, WN, CH Issued every 30
minutes on the hour and half hour, 24/7
Not issued

New Zealand aerodromes except NZAA, NZWN, and NZCH

Aerodromes METAR SPECI
WP, OH, MF METAR issued hourly on the hour during ATS operations Issued as required
All other NZ
aerodromes including the Chatham Is
METAR AUTO issued every 30
minutes, on the hour and half hour, 24/7
Not issued

Learn more about ROFOR

Type of forecast Issue time Valid time Issue frequency
ROFOR As requested by individual aircraft operators

Learn more about Satellite imagery

Himawari 8 satellite imagery Frequency of image
Infrared Imagery (IR)
Visible Imagery (VIS)
Cloud Top Height (incl WAFS model data)
10min to hourly scans

Learn more about SIGWX charts

Type of forecast Issue times Valid times1 Issue frequency
High level
(FL250-FL630)
Medium level
(FL100-FL250)
0300
0900
1500
2100
1800
0000
0600
1200
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily

1Charts have a validity of +/- 3 hours of the stated valid times.

Learn more about domestic TAFs

New Zealand aerodromes except NZAA1, NZWN1, NZCH1, NZWP, NZHN, NZQN

Aerodromes Validity period2 Validity period (hrs)
KK, KT, WR, WK, RO, AP, NP, WU, GS, NR, PP, MS, WB, NS, WS, HK, MF, TU, MC, WF, MO, LX, OU, CI 1200 - 0600
0000 - 1200
18
12
TG 1200 - 0600
0000 - 2100
18
21
PM 1200 - 0600
0000 - 1800
18
18
DN, NV 1200 - 0600
0000 - 1500
18
15

1Refer to TAF – International.

2Validity times one hour earlier during NZDT, TAFs issued up to one hour prior to validity start.

NZWP, NZHN & NZQN

Aerodromes Validity period1 Validity period (hrs)
WP 1800 - 1800
0000 - 0000
24
24
HN 1200 - 1200
1800 - 1800
0000 - 0000
0600 - 0600
24
24
24
24
QN 1200 - 0600
1800 - 1200
18
18

1Validity times the same during NZST and NZDT, TAFs issued up to one hour prior to validity start.

Learn more about international TAFs

NZAA, NZWN & NZCH1

Aerodromes Validity period2 Validity period (Hrs)
AA. WN. CH

0000 - 0600
0300 - 0600
0600 - 1200
0900 - 1200
1200 - 1800
1500 - 1800
1800 - 0000
2100 - 0000

30
27
30
27
30
27
30
27

1Available for international and domestic flights. The TAFs are also included in the Auckland VOLMET broadcasts.

2The TAFs should not be used before the commencement of the validity periods shown, TAFs issued up to one hour prior to validity start.

Take-off and landing data reports are reports of meteorological conditions at attended aerodromes prepared by the ATS unit immediately prior to a take-off or landing.

Further information on take-off and landing reports can be found in the AIP, GEN 3.5(external link).

Learn more about weather radar

Radar location Frequency of radar scan
Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Gisborne/Hawkes Bay, Wellington, Canterbury, Southland, Westland 7.5min scans

Learn more about wind and temperature charts

Type of forecast Issue times Valid times1 Issue frequency
Wind and Temperature 0530
1130
1730
2330
1200, 1800, 0000, 0600
1800, 0000, 0600, 1200
0000, 0600, 1200, 1800
0600, 1200, 1800, 0000
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily

1Charts have a validity of +/- 3 hours of the stated valid times.

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