Updated (2 Stories)  — Weather forecasts are being publicly funded on two fronts with both Niwa and Metservice now offering short range forecasts, using taxpayer funds to compete against each other.

The launch of Niwa’s new short range service for farmers and growers puts it in a head-to-head battle with Metservice, while private forecasters fear the government forecasters’ combined clout could heavy them out of the market.

Niwa is publicly funded as a Crown Research Institute and Metservice receives Ministry of Transport funding to provide free forecasting and severe weather warning services.

Metservice’s Jacqui Bridges said there were differences between the services but customers were asking why publicly funded services were competing.

“We have had comments from people that they find it strange,” Bridges said. “Metservice is a commercial service so we compete. If people want to compete with us they can compete with us and we are up for that.”

Niwa chief scientist for atmosphere, Dr Murray Poulter, would not comment on the relationship between Metservice and Niwa.

Comments on blog site The New Zealand Weather Forum called for Niwa to apply for the Ministry of Transport funding. “If Niwa is smart they should apply for the ministry of transport contract later, once they have all the services laid out,” said poster Tornado Tim.

“There would be no point in releasing these products to the public if they thought Metservice’s products were enough.”

Others called for the Government to set boundaries so taxpayers weren’t paying twice.
Private forecaster WeatherWatch supported Niwa branching out from long range weather and climate research.

The organisation has a troubled relationship with Metservice which was made worse last year with a price increase of $30,000 for daily highs – forcing WeatherWatch to scrap the service.

“We have always had a good working relationship with NIWA and I am cautiously optimistic that a closer WeatherWatch and NIWA relationship is going to be a very positive change for the weather industry and the New Zealand public,” said Philip Duncan from WeatherWatch.

“They are larger than MetService so I’d expect them to have the resources to really do the job well provided they work proactively with private industry.”

– By Kirsty Wynn, Herald on Sunday

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End of golden weather forecast for state service

The weather wars are on again as two publicly funded forecasters go head to head in a battle that some say could kill one of them off.

MetService and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research have clashed before, with observers saying there is no justification for funding both of them.

The latest clash began last month when Niwa, which has traditionally focused on long-range climate research, launched a rural web service for subscribers, as well as Niwa Weather – a free public forecasting website for urban centres.

Philip Duncan, head analyst of rival private forecasting company WeatherWatch, said the move spelled the end of MetService.

“Niwa are five times bigger than MetService – the writing’s on the wall. In the long run, Niwa will absorb MetService, and that’s what should happen. Merge them as one and we’ll save money and have better forecasts.”

Victoria University climate scientist James Renwick, who has worked for both organisations, said it was in the national interest for the services – which had been kept separate since Niwa was formed in 1992 – to join forces.

It was “crazy, inefficient and possibly destructive” for such a small country to have two taxpayer-funded enterprises competing in public forecasting.

“It does seem like a really poor use of taxpayers’ money. It just seems really bizarre.”

In 2006, government concerns that a lack of co-operation between the two organisations was harming weather forecasting prompted a recommendation that they should merge.

In 2007, they agreed to work more closely on forecasting weather, climate and severe events such as snowstorms and floods.

Climate scientist Jim Salinger said the latest antagonism was worse than in 2006. “Now it’s going off the tracks again – unless they’re together it’ll just keep happening.”

Both organisations were doubling up by vying to provide the same services, he said. Niwa’s satellite receiver in the Wellington suburb of Maupuia had been duplicated by MetService, which earlier this year installed a very similar one at its Kelburn headquarters.

Niwa chief scientist Murray Poulter said there was no conflict, and the two agencies were moving in different directions.

MetService communications general manager Jacqui Bridges said it could not comment on questions of inefficiency. MetService worked closely with Niwa at a “collegial level on the global science scene”.

“It’s not like we’re at daggers with them. We’re competing around the world in forecasting, so we’re used to competition.”

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce said he understood Niwa and MetService had “largely different customers and different approaches to their provision of forecasting . . .

“MetService provides general weather forecasting to many users on a commercial basis, while Niwa’s new system is much more localised, providing services to individual properties or areas such as vineyards and farms.”

STATE OF WAR

NIWA

A Crown Research Institute, it gets core annual government funding of $40 million, with $60m coming from commercial enterprises. Must return a dividend.

METSERVICE

A profit-driven, state-owned enterprise, funded through commercial contracts with government and revenue from other commercial activities. In 2012, its operating revenue was $42m.

– © Story by Matt Stewart – Fairfax NZ News