Kawerau scorched its own previous temperature records with a sizzling 35.6C air temperature on December 7.

It was the hottest official recorded temperature in New Zealand for last month, according to a report from Earth Sciences New Zealand.

It was also the highest recorded in the town since records began there in 1954.

Kawerau’s Maurie Kjar Aquatic Centre manager Morne de Lange said the free swimming pool complex had reached capacity for several days over the past month.

“We have had six to seven days where we had to close the doors because we reached capacity and had to wait for customers to leave before we could let more customers in,” he said.

Some days they had had as many as 575 people throughout the day.

“I have brought in extra lifeguards so we can allow larger numbers of visitors in.

“The pools are naturally heated using the abundant local geothermal energy but the main pool has had its temperature lowered to accommodate the hotter weather.”

Morne said the spa pool was always kept at a minimum 38C for the benefit of those that still liked a hot soak.

“The spa pool has been pretty unpopular the last two weeks with the high temperatures. Only the diehard people still use it at this time of year. We have three or four people who still come and sit in there for a few hours even on hot days.”

Kawerau and Whakatāne were two of the nine New Zealand towns to record their highest December temperatures since Earth Science New Zealand’s records started.

Whakatāne recorded 32.5C on December 6, its highest December temperature since 1975.

Motu recorded its highest December temperature since 1990 at 29.5C on December 9 and Tauranga also broke its own December record since 1913, at 31.2C on January 7.

Whakatāne also recorded its fourth-highest wind gust for December since 1974 at 86km/h.

The sunniest of New Zealand’s six main centres was Tauranga, with 269 hours of sunshine recorded in December.

The report also looked at what was ahead for the next three months. Above average rainfalls and temperatures are expected for the north and east of the North Island, including the Bay of Plenty.

Warmer than average sea surface temperatures would mean warmer night-time temperatures were likely.

– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.