This research explores improving wave forecasts in Aotearoa New Zealand, particularly at Banks Peninsula and Baring Head. We used detailed models and found that forecasts at Baring Head improved significantly due to its narrow geography, but changes at Banks Peninsula were minimal. The study demonstrates that local conditions greatly influence the effectiveness of wave prediction models, highlighting the need for tailored approaches in coastal forecasting to enhance accuracy in the predictions.

We aim to address a proposed disconnect between science and the public. In this case, it is imarine meteorological information and the users of these data. Here, the focus is not only on the perceptions, usability and uptake of extreme event forecasts but rather on general, everyday situations. A survey was conducted in two Southern Hemisphere countries, South Africa and New Zealand, and subgroups within the communities (recreational and commercial users) were identified and elucidated.