May 1974:  A relatively mild month. Over the greater part of the country growth was good for the time of year, but in some northern districts of the North Island dry conditions persisted and the considerable rains of the 4th week were too late.

Rainfall: Rainfall was mainly close to normal. However, it was below normal by more than 25% on the West Coast with the Alps, the Canterbury high country and the greater part of Otago; in most eastern districts of the North Island; and in parts of Northland and Auckland. The week from the 23rd to the 29th was the wettest part of the month.

261mm at East Cape, 11m at Cromwell.

Temperatures: Temperatures were mainly up to 1.5C above normal, except in eastern districts north of Dunedin, where they were about normal. Snow was reported on the 7th to low levels in the South Island and also on the central high country of the North Island.

23.9C maximum at Tokomaru Bay on the 28th, -8.0C minimum at Tekapo on the 19th.

Sunshine: Sunshine was mainly close to or slightly above normal, but was 20-30 hours below normal in Buller and Central Otago, and 20 hours above in some eastern areas.

[Some totals: Kaitaia 154, Auckland 146, Tauranga 159, Whakatane 173, Taupo 140, Hamilton 118, New Plymouth 131, Masterton 143, Dannevirke 134, Gisborne 159, Napier 172, Paraparaumu 154, Palmerston North 125, Wellington 128, Stratford 103, Wanganui 127, Takaka 176, Westport 97, Hokitika 117, Haast 117, Nelson 171, Blenheim 183, Kaikoura 144, Mt Cook 90, Mt John 161, Christchurch 141, Timaru 113, Dunedin 98, Oamaru 123, Queenstown 77, Alexandra 88, Invercargill 85.]

Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations).