Scientists using the rings on kauri trees to look at climate patterns are tipping global warming to bring more big weather extremes in the coming years.
The Auckland University study, published in the monthly journal Nature Climate Change, identifies that growth rings from the trees in Northland provide an insight into climate variations over centuries.
The El Nino weather pattern, which brings cool southwesterly winds and droughts is linked to wide tree rings as the trees grow rapidly, while La Nina, which brings wetter, warmer conditions is shown in narrow, slower-growing, rings.
Lead researcher Anthony Fowler says the variation in the tree rings has grown more frequent as the world has warmed since the 15th century.
"As the world continues to warm, New Zealand is likely to experience the impacts of El Nino and La Nina events with comparable intensity and frequency to what we have seen over the last three decades, and possibly more so," Dr Fowler told the New Zealand Herald.
"This means that we should anticipate more extreme events, such as flooding and droughts, in the regions affected by these weather patterns."
The researchers have created a climate record since 1300 by looking at the kauri rings and use what has happened in the past to help forecast future weather events.
Dr Fowler says while predictions were hard to make, it was plausible that more extreme weather events could hit New Zealand.
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