12 August 2024
Science Minister Hon Judith Collins KC has announced NIWA’s purchase of a new $20 million supercomputer.
CDC is proud to announce that New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA’s) new $20 million supercomputer, the largest research computer in New Zealand, will be housed in two state-of-the-art CDC facilities in Auckland. The new supercomputer will offer 2.5 to 3 times more processing power than its predecessor, enabling advanced weather forecasting, climate modelling, and AI workloads. With a focus on security and sustainability, CDC’s data centres provide the ideal environment for this critical national infrastructure.
The supercomputer will play a vital role in enhancing NIWA’s ability to deliver high-resolution weather and climate forecasts for New Zealand and the Pacific. It will support critical services such as 24/7 weather predictions, the international MethaneSat satellite mission tracking methane emissions, and forecasting services for the Department of Conservation and Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ). The enhanced computational power will allow NIWA to process larger datasets more frequently and with greater accuracy.
As a cornerstone of New Zealand’s research infrastructure, the supercomputer will also be capable of expanding to meet the computing needs of other scientific institutions across the Pacific, driving collaboration and innovation in environmental science and beyond.
CDC is committed to supporting scientific advancements and is excited to partner with NIWA in housing this next-generation supercomputer.