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Queenstown’s iconic Wine Cave turns 30

Source: Gibbston Valley

Wine tourism and experience leader Gibbston Valley is celebrating the 30th birthday of its iconic Wine Cave this weekend.

Completed in 1995, the immersive Gibbston Valley Wine Cave has welcomed more than one million visitors and is renowned for igniting the region’s prosperous wine tourism industry.

Gibbston Valley executive managing director Cristina Griffith says the 75-metre-long Wine Cave is a testament to the wine label’s pioneering spirit.

The Wine Cave – a visionary idea by Gibbston Valley founder Alan Brady – was formed between 1993-1995 by blasting a 1400-cubic-metre hole into the side of a schist mountain with 1.5 tonnes of explosives. It was also a pivotal moment for Gibbston Valley owner Phil Griffith, as his first ever investment into the wine brand was a contribution towards the then-$1 million required to create the cave.

“We’re very excited to be celebrating this significant milestone with our community and friends this weekend,” executive managing director Cristina Griffith says. “The Wine Cave is a wonderful place to explore and taste wine, as well as being the birthplace of some of the most exceptional organic wines in the world – as well as wine tourism in Central Otago. It’s been the setting for everything from marriage proposals to business deals – some big life moments and memories for a lot of our guests over the years.”

To mark the occasion, Gibbston Valley has partnered with local artist Holly Schröder to create a unique art installation in the Wine Cave, and will host live music from local artists in the Cellar Door courtyard from 12-4pm on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th December. Locals are invited to enjoy the summer vibes by stopping in at the Winery Restaurant for lunch, or a tasting in the courtyard.

Today, the Wine Cave serves not only as a flagship attraction of the multi-award-winning winery, but a functional storage space where 400 oak barrels can perfectly mature pinot noir and chardonnay.

“The Wine Cave provides the ideal environment for the barrel-ageing process,” adds Griffith. “While the summers are hot and the winters are freezing, the Cave remains a naturally constant temperature of 14˚C and 80% humidity to produce exceptional wine. It’s not just barrel storage; it’s a critical part of our wine production – it’s where they go and do their thing and is how we get to pour the magic that ends up in a glass.”

This weekend’s celebrations top off a highly successful year for the organic wine and experience brand, which is now under the leadership of Griffith. The Gibbston Valley Lodge & Spa has been awarded a prestigious Michelin Key, placing the Lodge among just 19 properties in NZ recognised for delivering “a very special stay” by Michelin’s global hotel inspectors.

It was also named ‘New Zealand’s Best Resort Spa 2025’ by the World Spa Awards, further enhancing the brand’s expansion into luxury hospitality alongside its renowned heritage wine offering.

In addition, Gibbston Valley’s coveted 2023 China Terrace Pinot Noir was awarded Champion Pinot Noir & Gold winner at the 2025 Aotearoa NZ Organic Wine Awards.

About Gibbston Valley
Gibbston Valley is Queenstown’s leading wine and experience destination. The award-winning Gibbston Valley Wines is a premium organic wine brand, and its Cellar Door and Wine Cave are among the Southern Lakes’ top visitor experiences. The Gibbston Valley Lodge & Spa offers luxury accommodation and a renowned day spa, named ‘New Zealand’s Best Resort Spa’ for six consecutive years. The soon-to-open Gibbston Valley Golf Course and Clubhouse will further enhance the curated wine and hospitality destination, set in the heart of the beautiful Gibbston Valley.  www.gibbstonvalley.com

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WEL Networks Approved For More Network-Level Generation

Source: WEL Networks

Electricity Distribution Business (EDB) WEL Networks welcomes the Electricity Authority’s (EA) decision to approve a further amendment to WEL’s generation cap, increasing maximum capacity to 101 megawatts.
This increase further supports the WEL Group’s plans (that includes NewPower Energy), for new generation assets beyond the original 66 megawatt exemption granted under Part 6A of the Electricity Industry Participation Code in October 2024.
“For the long-term benefit of consumers and to help meet New Zealand’s decarbonisation goals, more investment in network-level generation and storage is needed now,” said WEL Networks Chief Executive, Garth Dibley.
“We continue to experience rapid growth in electricity demand and we’re also seeing more businesses and households switching from gas to electricity, so we welcome this latest amendment to our generation cap by the EA.
“It also means we can create greater resilience in our network in the most cost-effective way and that’s increasingly important given the responsibility on EDB’s to manage the operation and maintenance of local networks.”
The WEL Group has been putting the generation cap increases into play through the construction of solar farms and battery energy storage systems, with more such infrastructure now possible.
To meet the country’s decarbonisation goals, renewable generation capacity must increase by 400-500 megawatts every year until 2050.
“We’re proud to be part of the transition to a more sustainable energy future,” added Garth Dibley.
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Government Cuts – Ministry of Health proposes slashing top public health experts – PSA

Source: PSA

The Ministry of Health is proposing to cut some of its most skilled and experienced staff in a change proposal released today, less than three weeks before Christmas.
The ministry’s Public Health Agency could have a net loss of 21 roles, concentrated in the Emergency Management team, which is proposed to go from 11 roles to two, and the Māori Public Health team, which could be cut to two roles from six.
“The Ministry of Health have told affected staff that this proposal is no reflection of the quality of their work, this is correct, their work is critical and high quality. This change proposal is again driven by the Government’s reckless budget cutting,” Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, says.
The Public Health Agency is the ‘lead adviser to the Government on public health and mental health. We advise on preventing disease, promoting health and protecting New Zealanders against threats to their health, including their mental health’.
“Ultimately, this loss of deep skills and expertise to the Ministry of Health is also a huge loss for New Zealanders.
“The COVID pandemic showed us all how crucial planning and public health is in an emergency, and decades of research have revealed that tangata whenua face health inequities at every level of the system. These changes make zero sense.”
Other changes proposed by the Ministry of Health at the Public Health Agency include significant changes to the Mental Health, Addiction and Suicide Prevention office.
Two Group Manager roles are proposed to be disestablished within the unit, with eight of its other roles to be moved elsewhere within the organisation.
“We’ve seen time and time again with the Government’s cuts specialist teams have been broken up. When it comes to health, as our population grows and ages, we need those specialist teams with deep, specialist skills.
“Cuts like these are weakening the public service, making a mockery of these public servants’ hard work to serve all New Zealanders.”
Staff consultation ends on 22 December, with changes expected to be implemented by April 2026. The PSA will be opposing these changes.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.
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Employment Disputes – Fire and Emergency New Zealand Statement

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

STATEMENT – NZPFU strikes again, putting public safety at risk – people should be extra careful – Fire and Emergency New Zealand Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler says it is extremely disappointing the New Zealand Professional Firefighters’ Union (NZPFU) will undertake another one-hour strike today, now facilitation with the Employment Relations Authority has been granted.
“NZPFU members will walk off the job again between 12-1pm today,” Megan Stiffler says.
“This comes after a decision by the Authority yesterday to refer both parties to facilitation to help make progress in ongoing negotiations.
“We ask the NZPFU to call off all planned future strikes while both parties are preparing for facilitation.
“There is no good reason for continuing to put the community at risk while we go through that process.”
People, especially those in cities and towns served by paid firefighters, are being asked to be extra careful with fire safety today.
“We will continue to answer 111 calls during the one-hour strike and respond to fires in affected areas, but our responses will be delayed. Our dispatch system will direct volunteers from their own stations and in their own trucks to help as they regularly do when there are multiple emergencies at one time, but it will take them longer.
“Businesses should take care with any work practices that could result in fire, and make sure their tenants understand their evacuation schemes and procedures,” Megan Stiffler says.
“We are advising everyone that, should there be a fire, they should evacuate early and, once out, stay out, and call 111.
“People should also check their smoke alarms and their escape plans.
“Community safety is of the utmost importance to us,” Megan Stiffler says.
“And, as we have done during the previous one-hour strikes, Fire and Emergency will prioritise emergencies and, as a result, may not respond to less serious incidents in cities and towns during the one-hour strike.
“For example, private fire alarms where there is no evidence of fire, small rubbish fires, assisting traffic management, and animal rescues. This will ensure our resources are focused where they are needed most,” Megan Stiffler says.
“We have notified Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance that, for the one-hour strike, our volunteer crews won’t be able to respond to medical calls outside their patch.
“I want to reassure people that this strike action will not affect most of the country,” Megan Stiffler says.
“The vast majority of communities are served by our more than 11,800 volunteers in nearly 600 stations across New Zealand, who will respond as usual.
“I want to say a special thank you to all our volunteer personnel today, on International Volunteer Day,” Megan Stiffler says.
“They are the backbone of Fire and Emergency, and we couldn’t serve New Zealand communities without them.
“I would also like to extend a thanks to our volunteers’ employers and whanau, who support them to respond.”
Bargaining
Fire and Emergency welcomes the recent Employment Relations Authority’s decision to refer it and the NZPFU to facilitation to help make progress in bargaining for a collective employment agreement.
“Attending independent facilitation with the Authority is the next logical step in coming to an agreement and we will participate in good faith with the NZPFU.
“We hope the facilitation process introduces some realism into discussions. The NZPFU’s most recent settlement proposal was more than three times higher than our last offer, which we believe was fair, sustainable, and reasonable, and in line with other settlements across the public service.
“Our latest offer of a 6.2 percent increase over three years would have taken the average senior firefighter remuneration from a range of approximately $80,700-$87,400 to $85,800-$92,900 at the end of the period, excluding overtime and allowances which currently adds an average of $38,800 to annual remuneration. We believe this represents a fair and sustainable increase for our people.
“We value our people, which is why over the past decade average senior firefighter pay has cumulatively increased by 37 percent – more than 10 percent above the average increase for all workers.”
Notes
  • Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union have been in bargaining talks for a collective employment agreement for paid firefighters since 16 July 2024.
  • Fire and Emergency’s most recent offer amounts to a 6.2 percent increase over three years and compares favourably with equivalent public sector agreements.
  • Fire and Emergency considers the offer is sustainable, balances cost of living pressures being faced by individuals alongside fiscal pressures faced by Fire and Emergency and is consistent with the Government Workforce Policy Statement.
  • The previous 2022 collective employment agreement settlement provided a cumulative wage increase of up to 24 percent over a three-year period for paid firefighters.
  • Fire and Emergency has also been investing in replacing our fleet. We’ve taken delivery of 317 new trucks since 2017 and have another 78 on order. We are currently spending over $20 million per year on replacement trucks. There is also a significant programme of station upgrades underway, as well as investment in training.
  • For the 2025/26 financial year, Fire and Emergency’s operating budget is $857.9 million. Of that operating budget, 59 percent will be spent directly on the frontline, while another 32 percent is spent on frontline enablers. This means that over 90 percent of Fire and Emergency’s budget is spent on the frontline and the people directly supporting the frontline. 
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Universities – Commerce and legal leaders awarded honorary doctorates – Vic

Source: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Business leader Dame Theresa Gattung and legal luminary Sir David Carruthers will receive honorary doctorates from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington during its December graduation.  

Each recipient boasts impressive career achievements, while leading public service focused pursuits ranging from gender parity and animal welfare, to advocacy for restorative and therapeutic justice.

They will be presented with their honorary doctorates at graduation ceremonies on Thursday 11 December 2025.

Dame Theresa Gattung to receive Doctor of Commerce

Distinguished alumna Dame Theresa Gattung is an award-winning business leader who throughout her career has championed causes such as gender parity, animal welfare, and social equity. She will be presented with a Doctor of Commerce.  

Born in Wellington to British immigrants who instilled a strong work ethic, Dame Therese studied economics and marketing at the University of Waikato, earning a Bachelor of Management Studies. 

Upon graduating, she moved to Wellington to study law at Victoria University of Wellington, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws in 1988. 

While studying, Dame Theresa began working in marketing at TVNZ, before eventually joining Telecom New Zealand, now known as Spark, in 1994. 

At the age of 37, Dame Theresa was appointed chief executive officer of Telecom, making history as the first woman to lead a publicly listed company in New Zealand. During her tenure as CEO from 1999 to 2007, she took it from a traditional telecommunications company to become the number one IT provider in New Zealand. 

In 2010, she wrote the bestselling memoir Bird on a Wire: The inside story from a straight-talking CEO (Penguin NZ). 

Three years later, Dame Theresa co-founded the to-your-door grocery and recipe service My Food Bag.

She credits her studies at Victoria University of Wellington with teaching her about a lot more than law.

“My law degree at Victoria University prepared me well for my business career. I learnt to always be prepared for the unexpected and to respond in as concise yet as powerful a way as possible. I also learnt that preparation matters.”  

In addition to numerous governance roles, Dame Theresa is involved with several not-for-profit and philanthropic interests, including as chair of the Wellington Board of the SPCA, and as a board member of the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women. 

Having received many honours during her career, in 2024, Dame Theresa Gattung was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to women, governance, and philanthropy. 

“I am thrilled to be receiving an Honorary Doctorate in the city I was born, which my parents chose as their home upon immigrating to New Zealand.”

Sir David Carruthers to receive Doctor of Laws

Alumnus Sir David Carruthers is a long-serving and highly respected member of Aotearoa New Zealand’s legal community. He will be presented with a Doctor of Laws.

He studied at Victoria University of Wellington, where he completed a Bachelor of Laws in 1964 and a Master of Laws with Honours in 1968. 

After graduating, he began his legal career in Wellington before returning to practise law in his hometown of Pahiatua. He then established his own law practice in Palmerston North. 

In 1985, he was appointed a Family Court Judge and Youth Court Judge in Wellington. He became Principal Youth Court Judge in 1996. Five years later he was appointed Chief District Court Judge—a position he held until 2005. 

Following his retirement from the judiciary, he served as Chairman of the New Zealand Parole Board, overseeing a period of significant reform focused on safety, fairness, and rehabilitation.  

He was then appointed Chairman of the Independent Police Conduct Authority, serving from 2012 to 2017. During his tenure he oversaw several large investigations, including those into the Urewera raids and the Roastbusters scandal.  

Throughout his career, Sir David has been a strong advocate for restorative and therapeutic justice. He believes communities should play an active role in resolving harm and supporting both victims and offenders to achieve lasting change.

Sir David continues to contribute his expertise as a member of the Advisory Board for the Roy McKenzie Centre for the Study of Families and Children at Victoria University of Wellington and described his own time there as a student as “life-changing”.

“Not only did I learn from highly qualified and committed teachers about the law and its application to all aspects of life in Aotearoa New Zealand and its philosophy and culture, but I also made life-long friends there who have supported and enriched my life,” he says.

Since 2021, he has been the Independent Implementation Monitor, overseeing the implementation of the recommendations of the Victorian Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants. 

In recognition of his exceptional career, Sir David was knighted by the Governor-General in 2009. 

Chancellor Alan Judge said, “The University is proud to recognise two celebrated alumni, who have gone beyond their career achievements by contributing their knowledge and experience to give back to the wider community.”

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Real Estate – Rental market in abundance as Kiwis flock to Oz in record numbers

Source: RealEstate.co.nz

  • Rental stock up 17.4% compared to November 2024 
  • Record number of new listings hit rental market – 7,253 properties
  • West Coast average rental price hits $500/week bracket for the first time.

Latest data from realestate.co.nz shows New Zealand’s rental market is awash with properties with a record 7,253 new rental listings hitting the market in November 2025, a 12.4% increase on the same time last year.  Total rental stock – 8,801 properties – has also increased by 17.4% year-on-year.

Sarah Wood, CEO of realestate.co.nz, says this significant lift in rental stock is likely a result of mixed factors, landlords opting to re-let their properties as opposed to sell them, and the high number of Kiwis leaving New Zealand for Australia.

“We know New Zealand's net migration loss to Australia has reached a 12-year high, and the majority of those moving have been in the prime tenant demographic – 20-39-year-olds. While this surge in supply of rental properties presents clear opportunities for renters remaining in New Zealand, it’s also creating a market that landlords and investors will need to navigate carefully.”

Record number of rentals available in the regions

The plethora of rental properties could also be found in regional pockets with new rental listings at record highs in Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu/Whanganui, Waikato, and Wairarapa.

  • Hawke’s Bay climbed 176% year-on-year to 127 listings
  • Manawatu/Wanganui had a 32.5% increase in new listings with 363 properties
  • Waikato’s supply of rental listings increased 12.3% to 783 properties
  • Wairarapa recorded a 52.7% increase in new listings in November to 84 properties.

Wood says: “To see all-time highs in new rental listings across four regional markets during the same month is significant.”

Rental rates continue to fall, but West Coast bucks the trend

In November, the national average rental asking price reduced slightly by 3.1% to $626/week, compared to $646/week at the same time last year. However, some regions bucked the trend.

The West Coast recorded an average weekly rental rate in the $500/week bracket for the first time, with the region’s average rent at $518/week in November 2025, an 8.4% increase year-on-year. Southland also recorded an 8.5% increase, with the average rent in the region now $483/week.

“These increases suggest strong local demand and they’re a reminder that not all rental markets move in sync,” says Wood. “Seeing the West Coast cross the $500 mark for the first time is a notable milestone, especially in a market where the national average has declined.”

Defining moment for New Zealand’s rental market

Wood says November’s numbers confirm the market continues to sway in tenants’ favour. “With more rental properties on the market than ever before, alongside policy settings including changes to pet rules coming into effect this week, the dynamic between landlords and tenants is changing. It’s a rental market reset and everyone in the sector will need to adapt.”

 

About realestate.co.nz | New Zealand’s Best Small Workplace (2025)

We’ve been helping people buy, sell, or rent property since 1996.  

Established before Google, realestate.co.nz is New Zealand’s longest-standing property website and the official website of the real estate industry. In 2025, realestate.co.nz was crowned Best Small/Micro Workplace in New Zealand by Great Place to Work.

Dedicated only to property, our mission is to empower people with a property search tool they can use to find the life they want to live. With residential, lifestyle, rural and commercial property listings, realestate.co.nz is the place to start for those looking to buy or sell property.    

Whatever life you’re searching for, it all starts here.   

Want more property insights?  

  • Market insights: Search by suburb to see median sale prices, popular property types and trends over time.  
  • Sold properties: Switch your search to sold to see the latest sale prices and an estimated value in the current market.   

Glossary of terms: 

The average weekly rental rate is an indication of current market sentiment. It is calculated by taking the asking rental rate of every residential property listed during that month and dividing it by the total number of rental properties. The average is a truncated mean. 

New listings are a record of all the new residential dwellings listed for rent on realestate.co.nz for the relevant calendar month. Listings on the site include rental properties listed by Property Managers and private landlords and provide a representative view of the New Zealand rental property market. 

Stock is the total number of residential dwellings that are for rent on realestate.co.nz on the penultimate day of the month. 

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Human Rights Commission intervention a boost for landmark pay equity legal case

Source: PSA

The PSA welcomes the High Court confirming that the Human Rights Commission can intervene in the landmark High Court action launched by five unions challenging the Government's decision to scrap 33 pay equity claims and gut the Equal Pay Act 1972.
The Human Rights Commission is offering the Court its expertise on pay equity, given it has statutory authority to promote equal employment opportunities and to monitor New Zealand's compliance with international human rights conventions, particularly those covering discrimination against women.
“The intervention of the Human Rights Commission in this litigation is significant and welcome,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“The commission’s statutory role is to promote equal employment opportunities including pay equity so it has a unique perspective to offer the Court.
“The Government rode roughshod over the human rights of New Zealand women when it cancelled pay equity claims and gutted the Equal Pay Act under urgency without consulting the very women impacted by this damaging decision.
“We know that the Commission with its expertise and deep knowledge of human rights will help us hold the Government to account for its outrageous actions to deprive New Zealand women of pay equity.
“We will not let the Government off the hook for its betrayal of New Zealand women.”
The High Court action was launched in August by five unions – the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, the PSA, E tū, the New Zealand Educational Institute and Tertiary Education Union – seeking a declaration that the amended Equal Pay Act 1972 is inconsistent with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.
The first stage in the litigation will take place with a 2-hour provision of discovery hearing by the High Court on 8 December 2025 at 10.00am
The unions represent more than 150,000 workers whose pay equity claims were cancelled.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.
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Value of building work put in place: September 2025 quarter – Stats NZ information release

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Value of building work put in place: September 2025 quarter – information release

4 December 2025

Value of building work statistics estimate the value and volume of work put in place on construction jobs in New Zealand.

Key facts
In the September 2025 quarter:

  • the seasonally adjusted total building volume rose 1.5 percent compared with the June 2025 quarter – residential rose 2.8 percent, and non-residential fell 1.3 percent
  • total building value was $8.2 billion, down 4.4 percent from the September 2024 quarter.

Visit our website to read this information release and to download CSV files:

For media enquiries contact: Media team, Wellington, media@stats.govt.nz“>media@stats.govt.nz, 021 285 9191

The Government Statistician authorises all statistics and data we publish.

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Employment Disputes – Fire and Emergency welcomes facilitation referral as best option to progress agreement with NZPFU

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand – Statement

The NZPFU should call off continued strikes while facilitation process plays out Fire and Emergency says
Fire and Emergency New Zealand welcomes the Employment Relations Authority’s decision to refer it and the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) to facilitation to help make progress in bargaining for a collective employment agreement.
“Attending independent facilitation with the Authority is the next logical step in coming to an agreement and we will participate in good faith with the NZPFU,” Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler says.
“We ask the NZPFU to call off its strike tomorrow and all planned future strikes while both parties are preparing for facilitation which represents the best opportunity to settle bargaining.
“There is no good reason for continuing to put the community at risk while we go through that process.”
The parties have been in talks for a collective employment agreement for more than 16 months.
“We hope the facilitation process introduces some realism into the discussions.The NZPFU’s most recent settlement proposal was more than three times higher than our last offer, which we believe was fair, sustainable, and reasonable and in line with other settlements across the public service.”
Fire and Emergency’s recent offer amounts to a 6.2 percent average increase over 3 years and compares favourably with equivalent public sector agreements.
“We believe our latest offer represents a fair and sustainable increase for our people. It would’ve taken average senior firefighter salaries from a range of approximately $81,000-$87,000 to $86,000-$93,000 at the end of the period. That excludes overtime and allowances, which currently adds an average of almost $39,000 to annual remuneration.
“We’ve approached talks in good faith with the goal of reaching a fair, sustainable, and reasonable settlement with the NZPFU that keeps our communities safe. Fire and Emergency values the incredible dedication of our people, which is why over the past decade average senior firefighter pay has cumulatively increased by 37 percent, or more than 10 percent above the average total increase for all workers.
“We’re also conscious that approximately 95 percent of Fire and Emergency’s operations are funded by a levy on New Zealanders’ building, contents and vehicle insurance, and the cost-of-living pressures that would arise from pushing those costs up too much,” Megan Stiffler says.
The Authority has indicated it will convene a case management conference to make the necessary arrangements to progress this matter. 
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Weather News – Heat returns to the east – MetService

Source: MetService

Covering period of Thursday 4th – Monday 8th December – Heat returns to the east.
 
Yesterday (Wednesday) the North Island saw wet and wild weather as an active low-pressure system crossed overhead.

The North Island had more than 17,000 lightning strikes overland.
The region with the most was Bay of Plenty with around 3,800 strikes.
The highest intensity rainfalls recorded were 43mm/h in Matamata, 37mm/h near Devonport in Auckland and 31.9mm/h in Gisborne.

Most regions will see the sun come out this weekend, especially in the North Island as high pressure builds and brings settled weather. The weekend will be more of a rollercoaster for the South Island.

MetService has a Strong Wind Watch for Southland, Otago and Canterbury High Country south of Aoraki / Mount Cook on Friday. Gusts of 100km/h can be expected, especially inland.

These northwesterly winds will also drive up the temperature for eastern regions. Christchurch, Ashburton, and Oamaru will all crack 30°C on Friday, and a MetService Heat Alert will be in place for Oamaru. Saturday will be more temperate in these regions, then the northwesterly returns on Sunday to bring the heat back.

In the North Island, the heat will be more persistent. Gisborne, Napier and Hastings are forecast to exceed 30°C on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

The West Coast will see a sprinkling of showers on Saturday, but more substantial rain arrives in the west and south of the South Island on Sunday. This band of rain moves north on Monday, weakening as it travels. The North Island remains out of reach and dry on Monday.

MetService Meteorologist Michael Pawley details “Saturday will be the pick of the days this weekend in the South Island; perfect timing for runners to complete the Kepler Challenge and be off the mountain before the rain rolls in overnight.”