Kawerau has been a hot spot with some record-breaking temperatures, including recording the country’s highest December temperature at 34.8°C on December 29.

Looking at the month of December, Kawerau’s mean air temperature of 21.6 degrees was 3.1°C above average, and the highest temperature recorded for that month since records began in 1954, Niwa’ Annual Climate Summary, released on Wednesday, says.

The report says 2024 was New Zealand’s 10th-warmest year on record, based on NIWA’s seven station series which begins in 1909. Of New Zealand’s 10 warmest years on record, eight have occurred since 2013.

Forty-seven locations observed record or near-record high mean temperatures for December, while no location observed record or near-record low mean temperatures.

At 20.2°C, Whakatāne experienced its second-highest mean temperature recorded for December since records began in 1974. This was 2.1°C above average.

Whakatāne also had a record maximum mean air temperature of 24.8°C in December, while Kawerau soared to 28°C, also a record highest mean maximum temperature for that month.

Niwa says in its report that over December 28-29, warm north-westerly winds delivered another spell of exceptional warmth across many parts of New Zealand.

On December 29, the warmest temperatures were experienced across inland and eastern parts of the North Island. Kawerau reached 34.8°C, the town’s highest December temperature since records began in 1954.

Whakatane had its fourth highest temperature for December – 29.9°C on December 19.

The sunniest four regions in 2024 were Marlborough (2769 hours), wider Nelson (2760 hours), Bay of Plenty (2734 hours), and Tasman (2665 hours).