May 1963: Fairly typical of late autumn, apart from dry conditions in eastern districts. In the Auckland and Hawkes Bay provinces and in Wairarapa it was the second month of low rainfall and in some areas feed was still short. In the South Island and western districts of the North Island stock were in satisfactory condition. Small local tornadoes caused some damage in southern suburbs of Auckland on the 29th.

Rainfall: Rainfall was only half the average value in most eastern districts and 2/3 in Northland. In parts of central and northern Hawkes Bay totals were below 0.5” and at some stations rainfall was the lowest on record for May. The West Coast, Southern Lakes and most of the Nelson province received 50% more than normal. Coastal Southland was close to this mark.

Temperatures: Temperatures were close to average in the North Island and above average by 1F in the South Island. Snow was reported in the Southland high country and the North Island ranges on the 5th, also in parts of the South Island high country on the 27th.

Sunshine: Sunshine was mostly close to or slightly above average. However, Nelson and Blenheim each had a surplus of 27 hours, while Invercargill was 15 hours below normal.

[Some totals: Te Hapua 145, Kaitaia 160, Kerikeri 148, Whangarei 133, Auckland 137, Tauranga 179, Whakatane 165, Taupo 148, Opotiki 159, Hamilton 131, New Plymouth 145, Masterton 125, Gisborne 150, Napier 157, Wairoa 143, Paraparaumu 146, Ohakea 144, Palmerston Nth 122, Levin 122, Wellington 127, Stratford 151, Ohakune 129, Wanganui 155, Westport 122, Hokitika 125, Greymouth 102, Haast 111, Nelson 188, Blenheim 189, Grassmere 165, Kaikoura 150, Mt Cook 91, Methven 143, Christchurch 132, Tekapo 136, Timaru 125, Waimate 129, Oamaru Aero 116, Omarama 141, Dunedin Aero 136, Dunedin 137, Queenstown 93, Alexandra 137, Invercargill 78, Campbell Is 23, Chatham Is 81].

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