April 1986:   A dry sunny month, with above average temperatures in most places. Southwesterlies prevailed over the North Island with their usual frequency and it was less windy than usual. Over the South Island northwesterlies were predominant and had their highest frequency since records began in 1956. It was windier over the South Island with the frequency of strong winds being the highest for April for over 10 years.  A dominant feature in the month’s weather was an anticyclone that remained almost stationary to the east of New Zealand from the 19th to the 28th. Mean sea level pressures ranged from near normal in Southland to over 4hPa above normal in Northland. Many farmers in Northland, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay reported dry conditions with little grass growth for winter feed. Stock were reported to be in very good condition.

Rainfall: Rainfall was above average on the West Coast, in Fiordland and in Southland. Throughout the remainder of the country rainfall was well below average, especially in east coast regions of both islands, and in most places to the north of Hamilton. Among places having record lows were: Whangarei Aero (25mm, 1937+), East Cape (11mm, 1916+) and Napier Airport (4mm, 1950+).

Some totals: Otira 476mm, Milford 770mm, Mt Cook 517mm, Invercargill 165mm; Waitangi 27mm, Tauranga 41mm, Masterton 17mm, Ruatoria 6mm, Mt Pleasant 5mm, Ikawai 4mm.

Temperatures: In the North Island the mean daily maximum temperature was about 1C above average. On the east coast from Gisborne to southern Wairarapa it was 2C-3C above average. Mean daily minimum temperatures were near average to 1C below average in most regions, except for Wellington and the Wairarapa where they were about 1C above average. In the South Island the mean daily maximum temperature was near or 1C below average on the West Coast and in Fiordland, and up to 3.5C above average on the east coast in Canterbury and North Otago. Mean daily minimum temperatures were generally about 1C above average, except for Invercargill, where it was 2.4C above normal, the highest since records began in 1949. Some record mean daily maxima were: Napier Airport (21.9C, +2.7C, 1974+), Christchurch Airport (20.2C, +3.0C, 1954+), Oamaru Airport (19.3C, +3.5C, 1968+). Many places on the east coast of both islands experienced warm afternoon temperatures of 25C-28C in northwesterly conditions from the 24th to the 28th.

28.0C maximum at Temuka on the 6th.

Sunshine:  Hours of bright sunshine were near or slightly below normal in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Taranaki, and on the west coast of the South Island. On the east coast of both islands from Gisborne to North Otago, including Marlborough and Wellington it was particularly sunny, with total sunshine ranging from 120%-150% of normal. Some of the greatest departures were: Gisborne ( +47), Masterton (+80), Paraparaumu (+53), Wellington (+52), Kaikoura (+68) and Christchurch (+73).

[Some totals: Kaitaia 162, Waitangi 151, Leigh 166, Tauranga 208, Whakatane 219, Rotorua 179, Taupo 164, Hamilton 159, New Plymouth 176, Masterton 227, Dannevirke 195, Gisborne 209, Napier 237, Palmerston North 157, Levin 170, Paraparaumu 201, Wellington 203, Stratford 164, Wanganui 207, Takaka 224, Westport 137, Hokitika 133, Greymouth 111, Nelson 220, Blenheim 238, Kaikoura 227, Mt Cook 135, Christchurch 223, Timaru 213, Palmerston 161, Dunedin Aero 152, Dunedin 133, Te Anau 123, Queenstown 136, Cromwell 169, Alexandra 156, Gore 124, Invercargill 110, Raoul Is 222 {highest}, Chatham Is 144 {2nd highest}.]

Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations).

I can see why you would think that, Rupert. It was one out of the box.