Climate change will bring more frequent droughts to some places, Niwa says.

Niwa is encouraging farmers to plan for climate change so they can maximise their abilities to adapt and thrive as significant change begins to take place.

Dr Sam Dean, Niwa's chief climate scientist, said while farmers were known for their resilience and ability to adapt to changing conditions, climate change would almost certainly go beyond any previous experience.

NIWA is focusing on assisting farmers to plan for a changing climate at its Fieldays stand this week.

Robert Charles/Stuff More extreme rainfall events with more rain, more flooding and stronger, more damaging winds are likely to affect New Zealand.

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Using highly detailed computer graphics, farmers would be able to find out what climate change might look like on their farm, and explore the choices they face.

"I want people to be informed to make decisions based on good science," Dean said.

"I think it's important we try to understand how much climate change is likely to affect New Zealand in the years ahead."

Climate changes expected for New Zealand include: An increase in the mean annual temperature across the country even if global greenhouse emissions stabilise; fewer frosts and more hot days where the temperature will be greater than 25 degrees Celsius; changing rainfall patterns with more rain in the west and south and less in the east and north; more extreme rainfall events with more rain, more flooding and stronger, more damaging winds; more drought in some parts.

In Taranaki, weather events at either end of the spectrum were likely to increase. More frequent river flooding due to more severe intense rain events was a concern, along with the risk of widespread surface flooding.

Droughts were also likely to become longer and more frequent, with the heightened biosecurity risk to humans and animals from tropical and semi-tropical pests, including weeds and insects.

Dean said New Zealanders were in the "unique position of knowing what our choices are".

"Once you understand significant change is coming, and some of is now inevitable, planning how we will adapt and thrive becomes a priority. We believe that optimising current farming practices is one of the most effective adaptation strategies," he said.

Farmers could expect climate change to affect a range of on-farm activities, including harvest times, crop choice, productivity, irrigation, groundwater recharge and pasture growth.

Extreme weather events could also put strain on water resources or lead to flooding and damage to infrastructure.