The Bay of Plenty recorded the most sunshine hours in the country so far this year, according the latest NIWA Climate report.

Tauranga was the sunniest out of the six main centres observed by the weather organisation in 2013 and has recorded a total 1433 of sunshine hours so far this year. Centres included Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland and Dunedin.

The Bay of Plenty was the sunniest out of the six main centres observed by NIWA.

Whakatane recorded the most sunshine hours so far in 2014.

The region, which is one of four regular reporting sunshine observation sites, recorded 1586 hours, with Takaka receiving 1364 and Nelson recording 1361 hours.

'It was an unusually sunny mild-winter with the Bay of Plenty experiencing well above the normal sunshine hours,” says the NIWA report.

'The high levels of sunshine extended to the rest of the North Island, despite high rainfall in Northland, as well as to the north-west of the South Island where above average sunshine was recorded.”

July was a dry month for most parts of the country with the Bay of Plenty receiving less than 50 per cent of its normal rainfall.

Last month was characterised by lower pressures than normal over New Zealand with well below normal pressure to the south and east of the country.

The pressure pattern resulted in an irregular south to south-easterly flow across New Zealand.

'This is in contrast to June, when a northerly flow contributed to New Zealand observing its warmest June on record.

'There was quite a contrast in rainfall observed across the country in July. Heavy downpours in Northland meant the region received well above normal rainfall, more than 149 per cent, with some stations in the region recording levels double of what is expected in July.”

Moving forward, the Bay of Plenty looks set to have some more irregular weather with fine days forecast in amongst showers and possible heavy rain on Monday.