The seasons here are the complete opposite to the UK. You have summer in December and midwinter falls in July. The further North you travel the warmer it gets.
I have to say I have been disappointed with the weather here. It is certainly better than the UK, and when it is good it can be like living on the continent, but it does not have consistently good weather which is what I expected.
Different regions have distinct weather conditions and I will endeavour to work my way down the Islands, starting at the top of the North Island.
Northland runs from the extreme north of the country to the northern margin of the greater Auckland area. It enjoys a warm climate throughout the year, but is one of the wettest regions in the country.
In Auckland the weather is often described as sub tropical, it is fairly mild in winter, you will probably only need a light jacket, but with lots and lots of rain. The summers are hot and can be humid . Snow is unheard of in this “City of Sails” and frosts are rare.
Moving down to Tauranga, this major city of the western Bay of Plenty, enjoys warm, dry summers and mild winters
Then on to Napier, which again enjoys a warm climate and has one of the highest sunshine records of any city in the country and is very hot and dry in Summer.
At the Southern end of the North Island lies Wellington. This city has earned the nickname “Windy Wellington” because the westerly winds funnel along the Cook Strait, which is the stretch of water which separates the North and South Islands.
Across the Cook Strait now to Nelson, which is located in the north of the South Island, this region is noted for its mild weather and high sunshine hours.
Down then to Christchurch which enjoys good summers, although some days can be spoilt with cold easterly winds. The winters are much colder than those in the North Island. It has a higher rate of sunshine and lower rainfall but frosts are common in the winter and low pressure fronts coming up the Southern Ocean can send icy blasts through the city.
Moving down the East coast to Dunedin the summers are warm with an average of 19oC, frosts come for about three months of the year but the occasional snow seldom lasts a full day.
Invercargill is the southernmost city in the South Island, it has a high annual rainfall and is cooler than the rest of the country. Windy conditions are common.
Back up along the West Coast the high rainfall results in relatively few sunshine hours but the temperature range throughout the year is quite moderate.