West Coast town experiences warmest July on record

Wednesday, 6 August 2025

Think it’s been chilly? Think again. It’s been the country’s fourth warmest July on record, with some places taking bragging rights for warmest, wettest and sunniest spot.

It’s been the country’s fourth warmest July on record, according to Earth Sciences New Zealand, and while many places can take bragging rights for sunniest, wettest and windiest, there’s one town in particular that’s had a warmer than usual July.

Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly Niwa) has revealed Hokitika recorded its warmest July since records began.

“Nine locations observed their warmest July on record, including Hokitika and Chatham Island, where records date back to 1866 and 1878, respectively,” Earth Sciences NZ climate scientist Gregor Macara said.

Waipara West in North Canterbury, a winery region, recorded the highest July temperature in the country on July 29 when the mercury reached 22.7C.

The other centres include Cape Reinga, Haast, Milford Sound, Secretary Island, Puysegur Point, South West Cape and Campbell Island - all but one in the lower half of the country.

Hokitika’s mean temperature for July was 9.4C, 1.8C warmer than previously recorded in the same month.

For much of the country, Macara said temperatures were above the average with a nationwide temperature of 9.2C. This was 1.1C above the 1991-2020 July average.

Thousands of homes in Banks Peninsula were left without power after strong winds toppled trees and damaged power lines on July 12.

The highest temperature, 22.7C, was recorded in North Canterbury’s Waipara West on July 29. The lowest temperature was -9.1°C, observed at Cass, inland Canterbury near Arthur’s Pass on July 24.

Rainfall was above or well above average for Tasman, Buller, Nelson and Marlborough, but as the top of the south got a hammering, the bottom half of the South Island including Southland, Otago, Canterbury experienced below the normal rainfall for July.

The highest 1-day rainfall was 164 mm, recorded at Motueka on July 11.

Wellington did not get a mention in the highest wind gusts - that title went to Cape Reinga at 124kph and Secretary Island on July 28.

On July 12 about 5200 Banks Peninsula properties were without power due to strong winds bringing down vegetation and trees onto power lines.

The three sunniest places so far go to North Island areas, Taranaki, Auckland and Bay of Plenty, while Auckland also took out warmest, wettest and sunniest of the six main centres, which includes Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.