94-year-old weather volunteer seeks successor

For almost a century, the Mason family have kept a closer eye on the weather than most people.

But now, at 94, volunteer Alan Mason of Feilding is looking for a successor.

Every morning Mr Mason checked his rain gauge, opened the hatch on his thermometer board, then went to his office and emailed the data to Niwa.

Mr Mason was one about 400 volunteers around New Zealand who measured weather data daily, adding to a database climate scientists used in their research.

94-year-old Alan Mason standing next to the weather station that he tends to on his Feilding property. Photo / Dave Allen.

"It's a daily chore," he said. "What I do is go out at 7am and first of all see if there's anything in the rain gauge, and read that in millimetres.

"Then I have a thermometer on the ground for the grass temperature and record the maximum for the previous day and the minimum overnight. Then I have a look at the sky and decide how much cloud there is and the wind direction.

"Then I go upstairs and then I boot up my computer and send it all in."

94-year-old Alan Mason inputs data from the weather station that he tends to on his Feilding property. Photo / Dave Allen.

Mr Mason followed a family tradition of volunteering that started with his father, Frank, in July 1917.

But Mr Mason said it was time to hand over the reins.

"I'm 94 for God's sake, I can't go on forever."

Niwa said it used to have about 1500 volunteers but with people moving and more automated stations, the number fell dramatically.

Niwa's principal climate technician Andrew Harper said the volunteers provided an crucial service and scientists appreciated their efforts.