Source: Earth Sciences New Zealand
Highlights:
-The nationwide average temperature in June was 10.6°C, New Zealand’s warmest June since Earth Science New Zealand’s seven station temperature series began in 1909.
– The highest temperature was 26.0°C, observed at Bromley (Christchurch) on 20 June. This is a new record for New Zealand’s highest June temperature.
-The lowest temperature was -7.7°C, observed at Ranfurly on 27 June.
-The highest 1-day rainfall was 168 mm, recorded at Arthurs Pass on 20 June.
-The highest wind gust was 183 km/h, observed at Cape Turnagain on 20 June.
-Of the six main centres in June 2026, Auckland and Tauranga were the equal-warmest, Tauranga was the sunniest, Dunedin was the driest, Christchurch was the coolest, and Wellington was the wettest and least sunny.
-The sunniest four locations in 2026 so far are Nelson (1410 hours), New Plymouth (1386 hours), Whakatāne (1356 hours) and Richmond (1334 hours).
-By the end of June, El Niño conditions were present in the tropical Pacific, and sea surface temperatures (SSTs) surrounding New Zealand were mostly above average.