Whats the New Zealand climate like?
New Zealand’s relatively small land mass gives us a variable and complex climate. Those living in the far north experience subtropical temperatures, while natives of the south live in a cool, temperate climate. A string of mountain ranges runs the length of New Zealand, bringing severe alpine conditions to mountainous regions. This chain of mountains shelters the eastern side of New Zealand, leaving the western side of the country vulnerable to frequent westerly winds and rain. The West Coast of the South Island is our wettest region, while the area east of the Southern Alps is our driest area. • Rainfall – most parts of New Zealand have annual rainfall of between 600 and 1,600 millimetres. In the north of New Zealand and central regions, rain fall is greatest in winter, while in southern regions winter is the driest season. • Temperature – on average, northern regions are warmer than their southern counterparts; the average annual temperature ranges from 10°C in the south to 16°C in t
