Summer? It’s been pretty average
Wednesday, 4 March 2026
It’s been a decidedly average summer ‒ and that’s now borne out by the statistics.
The latest Niwa data, due to be published this week, shows the capital had average temperatures, an average amount of rain and was less sunny.
“I love Wellington. It's such a great city. It's honestly my favourite place in New Zealand. But the weather is rubbish. It really is,” Niwa’s Chester Lampkin said.
And that’s translated into some tough numbers for some council venues that rely on good weather to attract visitors.
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A report due to be discussed at a city council committee meeting on Thursday points out October visitor numbers to the zoo were well down, “significantly affected by adverse weather, with 20 of 31 days being rainy and/or windy”.
Numbers at the zoo bounced back in December but “poor conditions during the January school holidays again negatively impacted visitation”.
Attendance at the flagship Gardens Magic concert series and its associated three-week summer programme, which includes sensory concert evenings, light displays, the Kids Garden Trail, and Kids Explorer Days, was also down on previous years.
“There were three cancellations due to weather this year, compared to none in 2025, and the overall weather was not as good as previous years where we’ve seen bigger numbers,” council spokesperson Victoria Barton-Chapple said.
Thomas and Rosemary Endras were in Wellington on Tuesday amid a five week tour around New Zealand.
From near Munich, Germany, where Tuesday's high was 14C with forecasts for sun all week and a 14C high on Friday, they arrived in Wellington after a rough Cook Strait crossing on a ferry that was running three hours late.
“It could be a little bit more sunny,” Thomas said.
Lampkin said the temperature in Kelburn at one point on Tuesday was just 7.8C, the coldest recorded temperature since November 16 last year.
So it hasn't been a good summer, but by Wellington standards, temperature wise and rain wise it’s been bang on average.
“The folks down in Christchurch had it worse, they had a much cloudier summer than even Wellington,” Lampkin said.
Wellington still more sunshine hours (648) than either Dunedin (544) or Christchurch (632).
Dunedin and Christchurch were colder too (let’s forget about Auckland). The average temperature across December, January and February in Dunedin was 14.8C, in Christchurch 16.2C and in the capital it was a balmy 16.5C.
Hospitality New Zealand chief executive Kristy Phillips said January accommodation spend was down 20% on the same time last year while spending in bars, restaurant and cafes was up 4%, a sign that those who could afford to travel probably looked to visit other parts of the country, while those on “staycation” spent on “an outing or two”.
“Wellington has always been a stronger ‘visiting friends and family’ and business travel market. This is especially over January when lots of Kiwis are on holiday and seeking out warmer weather, Wellingtonians included,” she said.
Wellington NZ chief executive Mark Oldershaw said the variable summer weather hadn’t notably impacted some events or business activity in Wellington.
“In fact, it’s been quite the opposite. Events like Maoli and UB40 at Waitangi Park enjoyed stunning summer days, and even when Ed Sheeran had a touch of drizzle, the atmosphere was still incredible - the crowd never missed a beat.
And as the city gears up for a flurry of activities, including the Newtown Festival, Cuba Dupa and, in April the Ultra music festival, Lampkin has good news.
“The next couple of weeks are going to be somewhat more settled. A high pressure is moving back in. So we’ll clear away this rain and this drizzle, and the northerlies will ease, and you’ll have some fine days later this week and early next week.”