Climate

Climate Types
   New Zealand is home to a temperate climate where temperatures are quite steady. The winter and summer temperatures do not stray too far from each other. This reminds of Hawaii's winter and summer temperatures where it is a max of 15 degrees fahrenheit difference. Although with the steady temperature, New Zealand is nicknamed "four seasons in one day"because if it is frosty in the morning, it could change to a sunny afternoon in a matter of hours. Reminds me of Honolulu's weather but more extreme.

This picture is from http://www.niwa.co.nz/education-and-training/schools/resources/climate/overview

Throughout the South Islands and the southern part of the North Islands, the annual average temperature is 8.1-14 degrees celsius (46 degrees Fahrenheit to 57 degrees Fahrenheit). Other than the northwest part of the North Island, the temperature is pretty constant throughout the year.




Seasonality 

image is from: http://www.aptouring.com/Destinations/new-zealand

Image from here

Imagine having snow coming down in the middle of June and July. Or the sun constantly shinning during "winter". New Zealand lies in the southern hemisphere so their seasons are the opposite of what we (in the U.S) would be experiencing. I would say depending on where you are located in New Zealand, the country's seasonality would be in the middle. It does not get too hot in the summer and it does not get too cold in the winter yet in some places, it may snow during the winter. 

Auckland night skyline
Photo from here

Located in the North Island - Aukland is home to the most populated city in New Zealand at 1.377 million people making it 33% of the whole New Zealand population! That is the same amount of people living on the Hawaiian Islands. 

The hottest month is February with an average temperature of 74.7 degrees Fahrenheit and the coldest month is July with an average of 58 degrees Fahrenheit. Making the range of temperature at 16 degrees Fahrenheit. The overall temperature is quite constant and not much of a drastic change. New Zealand experiences a lot of rain due to it's location near the equator. So it makes sense that Aukland often rains. The highest and lowest rainfall on the other hand is 5.7 inches and 2.6 inches respectively. The annual range of precipitation is 3.1 inches. Auckland seems like a colder version of Honolulu. The only difference is that the average temperature in the summer and winter are definitely much lower than Hawaii's. Other than that, the range seems similar to Honolulu's. 

Cathedral Square in Christchurch, New Zealand
photo from here

Opposite of Auckland is Christchurch, New Zealand; largest city in the South Island. Not only are they on two different islands, but the temperature range in Christchurch is slightly larger than Auckland. The hottest month of the year happens right in the middle of summer - January at 73 degrees fahrenheit. The coldest month is July with 51 degrees fahrenheit making the range equal 22 degrees fahrenheit. Not surprisingly, the month with the least rainfall is also in January and the most is in July. But the amount is much less. 1.5 inches in January and 2.6 inches in July which is much less than Auckland's 2 to 5 inches of rainfall.