I love it! I love it!!

Yeah, its ok to go outside but you need your togs, flippers and a snorkel... sunscreen not needed...

Yes this image shows over 7 years that we have been below average for the last four months here in Tokoroa, Noting the narrow graph mid bottom:

No. For August so far - about 25-30% of the NI has had average or below average rainfall, mainly from Taranaki to Kapiti. The huge contrasts are in the SI, from near-record low rainfall in the SW third to massive surpluses in the east and north from Dunedin to Nelson.

August sunshine has been below par (and quite abysmal in some parts) for most of the country, but above average in the SW 30% of the SI and in the Gisborne region.
Hi Rupert
I was reading in Historical last night before pushing up to the social mediums.
30 years ago August 1982. This area had 4 times the amount of rain compared to this August and yet this month the ground has just been bog.
Reason no sunshine nor warmer northerly to dry it up. The dew or drizzle just sat all day. Every time we did have a couple of mm of rain we were back to surface water as July's rainfall was still underneath.
Cheers
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Jenny, not sure where you got that rainfall for Aug 1982 locally for you, as the report says dry in the NI - and checking back on the full list from the original MetS. document  I find only 45mm for Wairoa - and lots of sun as well.

But as far as this year goes, certainly the excess rain in July with modest sun then followed by a drab wet August has had a bad effect. Our grounds are only just strating to show a small improvement after a few recent sunny days and blessed westerly winds.

I have gone rusty and creaky and bits of me are going mouldy....lol