Niwa data shows parts of the southern regions recorded their driest January on record.
Meteorologist Seth Carrier said the monthly rainfall total was below normal across a vast majority of New Zealand, including nearly all the North Island, along with the upper, western, and lower South Island.
Wanaka recorded just 3mm of rain in January, its lowest total since records began in 1927.
Other places recording their lowest January rainfall were Manapouri (West Arm Jetty) (25mm), Franz Josef (42mm) and Milford Sound (48mm).
Mr Carrier said the first few days of 2022 also featured hot temperatures across much of New Zealand, and many locations exceeded 30degC.
"This was caused by a combination of a warm air mass overhead, plentiful sunshine due to high pressure, and a northeasterly wind flow.
"The generally settled weather in January led to a continuation of marine heatwave conditions in the waters surrounding New Zealand — particularly early in the month, when sea temperatures were 2degC-4degC above average.
Several near record mean maximum air temperatures were also recorded in the South.
Manapouri (West Arm Jetty) recorded its second-highest January mean maximum air temperature with 22.4degC; Cromwell recorded its third-highest with 27.9degC and Wanaka recorded its fourth-highest with 26.8degC.
The highest temperature of January was 34.7degC, observed at Lake Karapiro (Waikato) on January 4, and the lowest temperature was 0.4degC, observed at Invercargill on January 28.
