Rain

Mountain chains extending the length of New Zealand provide a barrier for the prevailing westerly winds, dividing the country into dramatically different climate regions.

The West Coast of the South Island is the wettest area of New Zealand, whereas the area to the east of the mountains, just over 100 km away, is the driest.

Most areas of New Zealand have between 600 and 1600 mm of rainfall, spread throughout the year with a dry period during the summer.

Over the northern and central areas of New Zealand more rainfall falls in winter than in summer, whereas for much of the southern part of New Zealand, winter is the season of least rainfall.

Rainfall in 2006

2006 was much drier than average throughout parts of Central Otago and the Awatere Valley in Marlborough.

Clyde in Central Otago recording its driest year in more than 20 years, with only 286 mm for the year.

Rainfall was also below average (75 to 90 percent of normal) in parts of Northland, Coromandel, North Taranaki, Buller, Nelson, Marlborough, north and east Otago, and South Westland.

However, rainfall was well above average (at least 125 percent of normal) in parts of Wairarapa, Wanganui, Wellington, and Canterbury, and at least 110 percent of normal in Taupo, Manawatu, Kapiti, North Westland, and coastal areas of Southland.

Wellington recorded its wettest year since the late 1970s. Rainfall was near normal elsewhere.

Source: NIWA