In a season first, MetService has issued heat alerts to known hotspots around the motu, warning residents to take care as temperatures hover around 30°C.
Police remain hopeful of being able to resume searches for three men missing on Aoraki Mount Cook once the weather clears, but hold "grave concerns" for them.
Tiakaiwa Kingi, 24, of Dunedin, cools down at Outram Glen as temperatures topped 30°C on the Taieri at 3pm yesterday, as displayed on the Mosgiel clock.