April 1969: A cool month with several periods of strong west or southwest winds. Above average rainfall in many areas relieved the dry conditions which had prevailed throughout March. During the period 8 to 10 April a strong cold southwesterly airstream covered the country. A tornado on the 8th caused property damage in Levin and the high winds carried some of the debris it produced over the Tararua Ranges to a point some 15 miles away in northern Wairarapa. At the same time strong winds also disrupted communications in southern Hawkes Bay and northern Wairarapa, bringing down telephone wires and temporarily closing some sections of the road because of high wind speeds. Early on the 10th a small tornado occurred in a western suburb of Auckland, causing a small amount of property damage.

Rainfall: Most of the country received more than 3/4 of the normal monthly rainfall and parts of Wairarapa, coastal Marlborough, and North Westland and Buller had twice the average amount. However, in eastern Northland, northern Gisborne, and over an area of South Canterbury and northern and Central Otago the rainfall was well below average, being less than 1/4 of the normal value in a few places. In the north of the Gisborne district it was the second successive dry month.

Temperatures: Except in parts of Canterbury, mean temperatures were below average over the whole country. In parts of Westland it was 3F below normal and over a large part of the country it was 1F-2F below. Snow fell to low levels in parts of Otago and on Mt Egmont during the period 8th to 10th.

Sunshine: Most districts were favoured with above or near average sunshine. Parts of south Westland and inland Otago had a 30 hours surplus, while Westport had 37 hours less than normal.

[Some totals:  Kaitaia 165, Kerikeri 173, Whangarei 155, Auckland 151, Tauranga 181, Whakatane 192, Taupo 167, Opotiki 173, Hamilton 156, New Plymouth 153, Masterton 149, Gisborne 173, Napier 185, Wairoa 182, Paraparaumu 138, Ohakea 166, Palmerston North 134, Levin 139, Wellington 143, Stratford 152, Ohakune 134, Wanganui 173, Westport 119, Hokitika 134, Greymouth 112, Haast 166, Riwaka 174, Nelson 172, Blenheim 201, Grassmere 180, Kaikoura 169, Mt Cook 113, Mt John 197, Methven 180, Christchurch 152, Tekapo 185, Timaru 139, Waimate 156, Omarama 184, Palmerston 134, Dunedin Aero 121, Dunedin 110, Oamaru 150, Queenstown 134, Alexandra 173, Invercargill 97, Campbell Is 32, Chatham Is 88.]

Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations) - additional comments by the poster.

Good question. No doubt that Southern Alps snowpack has diminished but not sure about snow events - the relationship with general warming is not so clear as I understand it. Met should be able to answer re recording ...  regarding recording in general, I'm waiting for a Kelburn number to turn up in NIWA's database - 2 databases in separate organisations increase the chances of data omission of course.