2025 was New Zealand's fourth-hottest year on record, according to the annual climate report from Earth Sciences NZ (ESNZ).
The report found most regions were hotter than average by between 0.51 and 1.20C, but parts of Northland and the Bay of Plenty were "well above average" by more than 1.20C.
Contrasting rainfall patterns were experienced across New Zealand, with northern Marlborough, Tasman, Nelson, Banks Peninsula, southern parts of the Mackenzie Basin, and Taupō receiving above normal rainfall — between 120 and 149% of their usual totals.
Hawke's Bay and large areas of the Wairarapa were much drier, recording between 50 and 79% of normal rain.
The highest air temperature was 35.6C recorded at Kawerau on December 7, followed by 33.8C in Napier on December 8 and 33.7C at Ettrick in Otago on February 16.
The coldest air temperature of the year was -12.9C recorded at Mount Cook Airport on June 8, followed by -11.2C at Lake Tekapo on June 8 and -9.1C at Cass on July 24.
The organisation has recorded the annual temperature at seven weather stations across New Zealand since 1909, with this year's average recorded at 13.51C.
Four of New Zealand's five warmest years since records began have occurred since 2021.
ESNZ said this was a result of human-induced climate change and noted atmospheric carbon dioxide levels continued to rise, passing 423 parts per million at the Baring Head monitoring station during the year.
November was the warmest on record, with large parts of the country more than 1.2C warmer than the average.
Taranaki pipped Nelson for sunniest hours, with New Plymouth recording 2743 hours compared to Nelson with 2672 hours.
Among the main centres, Auckland was the warmest overall. Tauranga had the most sunshine and was also the wettest. Christchurch and Dunedin were the equal-coolest, but Dunedin was also the driest and least sunny.
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