Climate - New Zealand

Index

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• Introduction
• North Island - Auckland, Wellington
• South Island - Christchurch, Central Otago, Invercargill
• The small islands
• Cyclones
• Best Time
• What to pack

Introduction

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In New Zealand, a country located in Oceania, about 2,000 km (1,200 mi) south-east of Australia, the climate is oceanic, mild in the north and cool in the south, and also windy and rainy, especially in the southern and western regions. The weather is often variable, and there can be sunshine and rain alternating in a few hours, as is typical of oceanic climates.
The country is made up of two main islands, the North Island and the South Island, plus several smaller islands.
In summer, it rarely gets hot, and the records along the coasts in January and February are around 30 °C (86 °F), both in the north and the south.
From May to October, cold air masses from Antarctica can reach New Zealand, bringing greater effects to the South Island, with snow and frost in winter, especially in inland areas. In the southern part of the South Island, a bit of cold air can arrive even in summer. However, cold spells typically last a few days.
Rainfall is quite frequent throughout the year, but it is usually more frequent in winter than in summer, except in the extreme south (see Invercargill), where it is frequent even in summer. In the South Island, crossed by high mountains, the rains are much more abundant on the western side than on the eastern one.
The amount of sunshine is not exceptional, but it's acceptable in summer, at least in the north, where there is a good number of sunny days. On average, there are about 2,000 hours of sunshine per year in the center-north and 1,700 in the far south.
Being in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons in New Zealand are reversed as compared with Europe or North America.

North Island

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Let's start with the North Island, which has a mild oceanic climate.

Auckland

In Auckland, in the northern part of the island, at 37 degrees south latitude, the average temperature ranges from 11.3 °C (52.3 °F) in July to 20.5 °C (69 °F) in February. In winter, the temperature almost never drops below freezing. In July 1982, it dropped to -0.8 °C (30.5 °F). Snow is extremely rare. In August 2011, there was a snowfall without accumulation and with a minimum temperature of 2 °C (35.5 °F).
In summer, on the hottest days, the temperature generally reaches 27/28 °C (81/82 °F), and until now it has never exceeded 30 °C (86 °F).
Here are the average temperatures.

Rainfall is fairly abundant, since it amounts to 1,200 millimeters (47 inches) per year, and it's well distributed over the months. However, the rainiest season is winter, from June to August. Here is the average precipitation.

The sun in Auckland can be seen, between one depression and another, all year round, but especially in summer, for a total of 2,000 hours per year. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Near Auckland, the temperature of the sea is very cool, however, it reaches 20/21 °C (68/70 °F) from January to March, when those who do not suffer from the cold can try to swim.

Wellington

The capital, Wellington, is located in the southern part of the island, at 41 degrees south latitude, in the Cook Strait, which separates the two islands and is very windy. Winter is mild, the average temperature in July being 10 °C (50 °F). Here too, as in Auckland, the temperature almost never drops below freezing. In July 1968 it dropped to -1 °C (30 °F). And here too, snow is very rare, although there was a snowfall in August 2011.
Summer is cool: the average in February is 18 °C (64 °F). On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches 25/26 °C (77/79 °F). The heat record is 30 °C (86 °F).
Here are the average temperatures.

Annual precipitation in Wellington is similar to that of Auckland and amounts to 1,250 mm (49 in). The rainiest period is from May to August, which is also the one with the most frequent rains (12/13 days per month) and the lowest amount of sunshine (3/4 sunshine hours per day). Even in summer, however, it rains on average for 7 days per month. Here is the average precipitation.

In Wellington, the sunshine hours too, follow a pattern similar to that of Auckland.

The sea in Wellington is always cold, however, it reaches 17/18 °C (63/64 °F) from January to March, as can be seen in the following table.

In the interior of the North Island, there are hills and also a mountain, Ruapehu, where you can go skiing in winter, and on top of which, above 2,500 meters (8,200 feet), eternal snows are found.

South Island

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The South Island is cooler and is exposed to the westerly winds, which here blow for most of the year. In winter, however, snow and frost due to cold air masses of polar origin may occur, especially in the southern part.
This island is crossed by the Southern Alps, which culminate in Mount Cook, 3,754 meters (12,316 feet) high. The western side is definitely wet, in fact, precipitation is between 2,000 and 3,500 mm (80 and 140 in) per year along the coast, and it's even higher on the western slopes, where it reaches as high as 6 meters (19.5 feet) per year. The eastern side, where the main cities of the island are located, is definitely less rainy, in fact, precipitation decreases below 1,000 mm (40 in) per year, and some inland areas are even arid: in Alexandra, only 360 mm (14 in) of rain fall per year.

In the mountain range, there are eternal snows above 2,000 meters (6,500 feet). In the central and southern areas of the South Island, there are glaciers that descend from the mountains almost to sea level, and after turning into rivers, flow into the sea or feed lakes.

Christchurch

In Christchurch, located on the east coast, at 41 degrees south latitude, the average temperature ranges from 6 °C (43 °F) in July to 17 °C (63 °F) in January and February. In this, as in other cities of the eastern side, there can sometimes be sudden rises in temperature due to downslope winds that descend from the mountains. From December to March, with this wind the temperature can reach 35/36 °C (95/97 °F).
From May to October, during cold air outbreaks, the temperature can drop to around -4/-5 °C (23/25 °F). In July 1945 and July 1982 it dropped to -7 °C (19.5 °F). Sometimes it can even snow.
Here are the average temperatures.

Christchurch receives 575 mm (23 in) of rain per year and is the driest between the major cities of New Zealand, even though the rains are still quite frequent. Here is the average precipitation.

In Christchurch too, between one disturbance and another, the sun can be seen all year round, but especially in summer.

The temperature of the sea on the South Island is always cold; near Christchurch, it ranges from 10 °C (50 °F) in the winter months to 15 °C (59 °F) in January and February.

On the western side of the South Island, wind is frequent and intense, especially in the south-west, the area of the fjords. As mentioned, we are in the area of the westerly winds that sweep the southern seas around Antarctica.

Central Otago

During the winter, the lowest temperatures are reached in the southern inland areas, particularly in Central Otago, where there are a few towns, such as the aforementioned Alexandra, which, in addition to being dry, is also cold, with an average in July of only 3 °C (37.5 °F). Here, during cold waves, there may be intense frosts at night.
In particular, in the plain of Maniototo, from May to September the temperature can drop to -10 °C (14 °F) or even below. In the village of Ranfurly, a temperature of -25.6 °C (-14.1 °F) would have been reached in 1903, and if this value is correct, it is the absolute cold record in New Zealand.



Here are the average temperatures in Alexandra.

In Alexandra, the rains are quite scarce, since they amount to 360 mm (14 in) per year. Here is the average precipitation.

Invercargill

In the far south, the climate is very cool, if not cold: in Invercargill, at 46 degrees south latitude, the average temperature ranges from 5.5 °C (42 °F) in July to 14 °C (57 °F) in January and February. The city is very windy (and is the second windiest city in New Zealand after Wellington) because it is exposed to the sea on three sides.
Cold air masses from Antarctica can arrive all year round, and in all months the cold records are below freezing: in January 2000, in the height of summer, the temperature dropped to -1 °C (30 °F). In winter, from June to August, the temperature can drop to -7/-8 °C (18/19 °F), owing to the presence of the sea and the wind, during the day the temperature goes above freezing even on these occasions.
In summer, the temperature generally reaches 27/28 °C (81/82 °F) on the hottest days, but in recent years, it has occasionally exceeded 30 °C (86 °F). In January 2018 and January 2022 it reached 32 °C (90 °F).
Here are the average temperatures.

The rains in Invercargill are frequent throughout the year, as well as wind and cloud cover. Here is the average precipitation.

In Invercargill and on the western side, the sun is seen a little less often than on the eastern side of the South Island.

In the far south, in Invercargill, the sea only reaches 13 °C (55 °F) in January and February, although it still doesn't drop below 10 °C (50 °F) in winter.

The city of Dunedin, which is located in the south-east, is a little more sheltered from rain and wind, but all in all, it has a similar climate.

Small islands

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Let us now have a look at the climate of some islands belonging to New Zealand, but far away from the main territory.

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Raoul Island, the northernmost of the Kermadec islands, located more than 950 kilometers (600 miles) north-east of the North Island and at 29 degrees south latitude, is mild and rainy. The average ranges from 16 °C (61 °F) in August to 23 °C (73.5 °F) in February. On average, 1,500 mm (60 in) of rain fall per year, well distributed, though with a relative maximum in winter and a relative minimum in spring. Here are the average temperatures.

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The Chatham Islands, 900 km (550 mi) east of the South Island and at 44 degrees south latitude, have a mild oceanic climate, similar to certain areas of the South Island itself, with frequent rainfall throughout the year, though not abundant, and an average temperature ranging from 8 °C (46.5 °F) in July to 15 °C (59 °F) in January and February. Here are the average temperatures in the main settlement, Waitangi.

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Campbell Island, 600 km (370 mi) south of the South Island and at 52 degrees south latitude, is an uninhabited island, definitely cold and windy all year round, in fact, the average temperature ranges from 5 °C (41 °F) in winter to 9.5 °C (49 °F) in summer. Precipitation amounts to 1,300 mm (51 in) and is frequent throughout the year, as well as snowfalls in winter. The sky is almost always overcast: with 650 hours of sunshine per year, Campbell Island is one of the least sunny places in the world.
Here are the average temperatures.

Tropical cyclones

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New Zealand is not located in the path of cyclones, but once in a while, a tropical cyclone, usually weakened, may reach these latitudes, usually affecting the North Island and the northernmost part of the South Island, bringing rain, wind, and storm surges. In the last few decades, tropical cyclones or their remains have affected New Zealand from mid-December to April 20, with a higher frequency from January to March.

Best Time

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The best time to visit New Zealand is the austral summer, from December to March, since it is pleasantly warm on the North Island and cool on the South Island. If you want to visit the country in winter, for example in August, you can choose the North Island, which is milder and more sheltered from cold waves, and maybe you can combine the exploration of the cities with a bit of skiing in the mountains.

What to pack

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In winter (June to August): for the North Island, Auckland, and Wellington, bring spring/autumn clothes, a sweater, a jacket, and a raincoat or umbrella. For the South Island, bring warm clothes, such as a down jacket, a scarf, a hat, and a raincoat. For high mountains, mountain clothing.
In summer (December to February): for the North Island, Auckland, and Wellington, and the South Island down to Christchurch, bring light clothes for the day, a sweatshirt and a light jacket for the evening, and a raincoat or umbrella. For the south, spring/autumn clothes, a sweater, and a raincoat or umbrella. For the Southern Alps, warm mountain clothing.

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