July 1968:  July was marked by an unusually high frequency of winds from an easterly quarter. Excessive rain in most eastern districts was not welcome. In Gisborne and Hawkes Bay, after two very wet months, waterlogged ground in some areas adversely affected stock health, but many western North Island districts found the comparatively low rainfall beneficial. There was an excessive accumulation of snow in parts of Southland, Otago and South Canterbury, especially the high country. Heavy frosts followed in the same areas, isolating stock and necessitating the use of helicopters for feeding.
   
Rainfall: East of the main ranges and in the Waimea Plains of Nelson, also in parts of Coromandel and Northland, rainfall was mainly 50% above average [below in Napier city]. The greatest excesses were recorded just inland from Gisborne and around Kaikoura, where totals were more than double the normal value. West of the main ranges, in the Southern Lakes and in parts of Southland, Otago, and inland Canterbury, it was below average, mainly by about 30%. In North Taranaki, Waitomo and parts of Waikato it was less than half the average and some stations had their driest July for many years. In the Southern Lakes district rainfall was also less than half the average value.

Temperatures: In Southland, Otago and inland Canterbury temperatures were mainly 2F-5F below average, with greatest departures in the high country, where this was the coldest month since July 1938. Elsewhere they were mainly close to average. The snowfalls on the last 4 days of June on the high country of both islands and to low levels in the South Island persisted for the first 4 days of July, and there were further falls about 10-12 July and on the 25th. Frosty conditions, especially during the first half of the month, allowed little opportunity for snow cover to melt over the greater part of the South Island. On the hills to the southwest of Mossburn at 2000 ft the depth was reported as 2 ft, and 10 ft in the drifts, and it remained frozen there for 3 weeks. Very severe conditions were experienced, even at quite low altitudes, where a continuous snow cover persisted. For example Tara Hills, Omarama (alt. 1600’) had snow lying for the whole month, never less than 5.5” in depth. The mean temperature of 23.2F (-4.9C) was the lowest ever recorded in New Zealand for a month below an altitude of 3000’. On 8 days the maximum failed to reach 32F (0C), the lowest maximum being 20F (-6.7C) on the 14th. The minima fell just below 0F (-17.8C) on the 6th, 7th and 14th. [All this despite ample sunshine of 143 hrs; the month’s temperature departure was 11.2F (6.2C)].

Sunshine: The West Coast and inland Canterbury were especially favoured, with 30-80 hours more sunshine than usual. Haast had 182 hours, its highest in 26 years of observation. Other areas with sunshine somewhat above average were western North Island districts, most of Marlborough and Nelson, and parts of Otago and Southland. The only areas with appreciably less sun than usual were northern Northland and parts of northern Hawkes Bay.

[Some totals: Kaitaia 132, Kerikeri 130, Whangarei 118, Leigh 127, Auckland 134, Tauranga 145, Whakatane 165, Taupo 133, Opotiki 147, Hamilton 142, New Plymouth 134, Masterton 102, Gisborne 122, Napier 147, Wairoa 109, Paraparaumu 143, Ohakea 131, Palmerston North 116, Levin 137, Wellington 115, Stratford 125, Ohakune 95, Wanganui 124, Westport 160, Hokitika 163, Greymouth 150, Haast 182, Riwaka 174, Nelson 177, Blenheim 181, Grassmere 154, Kaikoura 131, Mt Cook 107, Mt John 173, Methven 140, Christchurch 123, Tekapo 110, Timaru 141, Waimate 137, Omarama 143, Dunedin Aero 118, Dunedin 119, Oamaru 141, Queenstown 90, Alexandra 104, Invercargill 96, Campbell Is 12, Chatham Is 107 (2nd highest)].

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

What a lousy month July 68 was huh.

Let hope 50 years on, 2018 is much warmer.