The country may have had its warmest June on record this year, according to official records, but Otago and Southland largely stayed just out of reach of their top temperatures for that time of year.
In its national monthly climate summary the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) revealed the average temperature for New Zealand this June was 2degC higher than average.
Only one of 24 spots around the country to record their warmest June on record was in the South.
Puysegur Point on the southwestern tip of Fiordland recorded its warmest June since records began in 1978, with a mean air temperature for the month of 10.3degC, which was 1.7degC warmer than normal.
West Coast towns Westport, Hokitika, Greymouth and Haast all also recorded their warmest June temperatures, with averages ranging from 2degC to 2.7degC warmer than normal.
In the South, Dunedin had its second warmest June since records began there in 1947.
The city had an average mean air temperature of 8.8degC, which was 1.5degC higher than normal.
The minimum mean air temperature was 5.6degC, which was 1.6degC warmer than normal.
Waimate recorded its third highest average temperature at 8degC, which was 1.7degC higher than usual.
Oamaru had its third highest average temperature with 7.8degC, 0.7degC higher than normal.
Niwa climate scientist Gregor Macara said the record-breaking warmth was indicative of climate change.
New Zealand had warmed by 1degC on average over the past hundred years and record-breaking temperatures would become more common as time went on, he said.
The warmest June temperature was 22degC, observed at Hastings on June 26 and Leigh on June 19.
The lowest temperature was -7.4degC in Middlemarch on June 19.
High winds in June were also on the brink of breaking records around Otago.
Queenstown had a wind gust of 89kmh on June 5, the second strongest gust in June since records began in 1972.
Oamaru recorded a wind gust of 83kmh on June 29, the equal third strongest since records began there in 1984.
The strongest wind gust nationally was 191kmh, observed at Cape Turnagain on June 28.
Rainfall was above normal for eastern parts of southeastern Otago and western Southland, and below normal for Central Otago.
