July 1976:  July was marked by a higher frequency of south-westerly winds than usual, with cloudy weather in the west but unusually sunny conditions in most eastern districts. In Southland and parts of Otago and also in some southern and western districts of the North Island farmers have been finding the ground too wet. On the other hand, parts of South Canterbury have had comparatively little rain for the last 6 months and conditions are too dry. A small intense local disturbance around Kaikoura on the 15th caused winds averaging 60 kts with gusts to 91 kts.

Rainfall: Rainfall was above normal over the greater part of the country, mainly by about 50%. Over a considerable area of western Southland it was more than double the normal value. The main areas with rainfall below normal were northern Northland; Hawkes Bay with eastern Bay of Plenty and parts of Taupo; Westland and Fiordland with central and South Canterbury, North Otago and parts of Central Otago. In northern Hawkes Bay and most of South Canterbury it was less than half the average.

Some monthly totals (mm): Albert Park 189, Hamilton 210, Masterton 186, Westport 236, Nelson 140, Te Anau 145, Otautau 162; Cape Reinga 72, Tauranga Aero 89, Napier Aero 39, Wairoa 50, Milford 274, Tekapo 33, Oamaru Aero 19.

Temperatures:  Mean temperatures were mainly close to normal. The coldest days were the 2nd, 3rd, 17th and 19th. On the 16th snow was reported well down on the hills of Nelson, Wellington and Wairarapa.

20.7C maximum at Kaikoura on the 15th, -10.5C minimum at Twizel on the 1st.

Sunshine:  Sunshine was above normal in eastern districts of the North Island and in Canterbury by 20-50 hours. Gisborne’s 184 hours was its highest July total in 40 years of observation. In western districts of both islands and also on the Southland coast and in South Otago, sunshine was below normal by up to 45 hours, with the King Country most affected. Taumarunui received only 58 hours.

[Some totals: Kaitaia 151, Dargaville 121, Leigh 147, Auckland 133, Tauranga 155, Whakatane 184, Rotorua 148, Taupo 122, Te Kauwhata 99, Hamilton 88, Taumarunui 58, New Plymouth 112, Masterton 126, Dannevirke 116, Gisborne 184, Napier 179, Kairanga 99, Palmerston North 72, Levin 102, Wellington 119, Stratford 106, Wanganui 96, Westport 94, Hokitika 94, Greymouth 75, Haast 119, Riwaka 150, Nelson 163, Blenheim 167, Kaikoura 140, Mt Cook 84, Methven 148, Christchurch 151, Tekapo 135,  Timaru 145, Oamaru 141, Omarama 143, Palmerston 127, Dunedin 107, Te Anau 83,  Queenstown 85, Alexandra 100, Gore 100, Invercargill 73, Chatham Is 105 (3rd highest)].

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