Source: Statistics New Zealand
New Zealand’s changing climate: Rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns
2 October 2026
Over time, temperatures in New Zealand have increased and the pattern of rainfall across the country has changed, according to data released by Stats NZ today.
Data for most of our atmosphere and climate environmental indicators came from 30 climate stations around the country monitored by Earth Sciences New Zealand. Information on temperature, rainfall, wind, and other climate-related data has been collected at these sites for many decades, enabling us to analyse long-term trends.
Stats NZ publishes and updates environmental indicators on the state of New Zealand’s environment as part of a joint environmental reporting programme with partner Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT).
We used this data to see how New Zealand’s climate has changed over time, and how changes differ across the country.
Visit the Statistics New Zealand website to read the updated indicators: