November 1960: For the greater part of the country November was somewhat drier than usual. It was particularly wet and cloudy in Gisborne and northern Hawkes Bay. In this area a large percentage of the month’s rain fell during the passage of a depression just to the north from the 18th-20th. The exceptionally heavy and persistent rain caused flooding and disruption of road transport, with some serious losses of shorn sheep in relatively cold temperatures with snow to quite low levels on the ranges.

Rainfall: Over most of the country, outside Northland, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay, rainfall was about average or below it by up to 40%. However, parts of Waitomo, Nelson, Marlborough, North Canterbury and the Alps received less than half the normal rainfall; while most of Otago had more than 50% above average. Gisborne and northern Hawkes Bay and parts of central Northland were much wetter than usual. From Tokomaru Bay to the Mohaka River totals were from 4-6 times average and by far the highest on record for November. At Mangatoto station between Wairoa and Gisborne, the month’s total was 22.34”, of which 20.85” fell between the 16th and 23rd; and 16.5” of it fell on the 18th-20th.

Temperatures: Temperatures were mainly close to average. The coolest spell was the 3rd week, from about the 16th to the 23rd.

Sunshine: Sunshine was below average in eastern and southern districts of the North Island, including Rotorua and Bay of Plenty, and also in parts of Otago. For Gisborne, Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa it was one of the cloudiest Novembers on record, with 50 hours less sun than normal. Northern Northland, Taranaki, Nelson and the West Coast were favoured with 30-60 hours more sunshine than usual.

[Some totals: Te Hapua 232, Kaitaia 234, Kerikeri 233, Whangarei 205, Auckland 222, Tauranga 212, Whakatane 202, Taupo 208, Hamilton 228, New Plymouth 254, Masterton 160, Gisborne 172, Napier 175, Wairoa 169, Paraparaumu 221, Ohakea 213, Palmerston North 177, Levin 186, Wellington 193, Wanganui 232, Westport 226, Hokitika 238, Greymouth 215, Haast 226, Nelson 270, Blenheim 244, Grassmere 210, Kaikoura 211, Mt Cook 170, Methven 247, Christchurch 242, Tekapo 246, Timaru 204, Waimate 169, Omarama 204, Dunedin 168, Queenstown 225, Alexandra 201, Invercargill 192, Raoul Is 251, Campbell Is 94, Chatham Is 145].


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