New Zealand’s Changing Climate: Rising Temperatures And Shifting Rainfall Patterns

02 Oct 2026, 11:21 by Stats NZ · SCOOP

2 October 2026

Over time, temperatures in New Zealand have increased and the pattern of rainfall across the country has changed, according to data released by Stats NZ today.

Data for most of our atmosphere and climate environmental indicators came from 30 climate stations around the country monitored by Earth Sciences New Zealand. Information on temperature, rainfall, wind, and other climate-related data has been collected at these sites for many decades, enabling us to analyse long-term trends.

Stats NZ publishes and updates environmental indicators on the state of New Zealand’s environment as part of a joint environmental reporting programme with partner Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT).

We used this data to see how New Zealand’s climate has changed over time, and how changes differ across the country.

Visit our website to read the full news story and the updated indicators:

New Zealand’s changing climate: Rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns (https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/new-zealands-changing-climate-rising-temperatures-and-shifting-rainfall-patterns/)
Atmospheric ozone: Data to 2025 (https://www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/atmospheric-ozone-data-to-2025/)
Drought and wet periods: Data to 2025 (https://www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/drought-and-wet-periods-data-to-2025/)
El Niño Southern Oscillation: Data to 2025 (https://www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/el-nino-southern-oscillation-data-to-2025/)
Extreme rainfall: Data to 2025 (https://www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/extreme-rainfall-data-to-2025/)
Extreme wind: Data to 2025 (https://www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/extreme-wind-data-to-2025/)
Frost and growing degree days: Data to 2025 (https://www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/frost-and-growing-degree-days-data-to-2025/)
Greenhouse gas concentrations: Data to 2025 (https://www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/greenhouse-gas-concentrations-data-to-2025)
Rainfall: Data to 2025 (https://www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/rainfall-data-to-2025/)
Sunshine hours: Data to 2025 (https://www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/sunshine-hours-data-to-2025/)
Temperature: Data to 2025 (https://www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/temperature-data-to-2025/)

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