Many parts of New Zealand experienced their hottest summer on record as the country sweltered through multiple heat waves, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) said today.
Temperatures hit record or near-record highs in many areas in the North Island, as well as the north of the South Island, with the highest - 41.3degC - recorded at Timaru on February 6.
Hamilton, Nelson and Kaitaia, Taupo and Hastings were among the regions to experience their highest average summer temperature since records began.
Temperatures were also above average for the rest of the country, Niwa said.
The summer also brought very heavy rainfall, often associated with ex-tropical cyclones, with record or near-record rainfall in parts of Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and Otago.
The highest rainfall for one day was 313mm, which fell at Mt Cook on December 27.
Of the six main centres, Tauranga and Auckland were equal-warmest, Tauranga was the wettest but also the sunniest, Christchurch the driest, and Dunedin the coolest and cloudiest.
The lowest temperature recorded was -2.3degC at Tara Hills in South Canterbury on December 8.
