The Ministry of Transport’s contract with MetService provides for the making and issuing of forecasts; the collection and recording of meteorological information; and a meteorological warning service.

The contract encompasses these weather forecasting services for New Zealand:

• Marine
• Public safety
• Regional
• Severe weather
• Civil defence and Police search and rescue
• Mountain
• Non-commercial general aviation

The current contract provisions include a resilience programme and the formation of a disaster recovery backup facility. It also includes the expectation that MetService will demonstrate scientific and technological advancement befitting a contemporary National Meteorological Service.