Since returning from our holiday in Japan a little over a month ago, I’m beginning to wonder if somehow we’ve moved into a parallel dimension.
The people look and behave the same, places look the same, even the politicians seem the same (although the government has changed). What is different is the weather. It’s not New Zealand weather as I know it.
Aotearoa New Zealand is well know for its temperate climate. Not too cold in winter. Not too hot in summer. The average daily maximum temperature in December in my home town is 20°C (68℉), But not one day this month has the maximum daily temperature been below 24°C (75°F). I started writing the piece late morning and already the thermometer is at 23 24 25°C (77°F) outside and climbing. According to my weather station, the maximum temperature so far this month has been 34°.3C (93.7°F)!
Perhaps if you reside on or near a continental land mass, you’re wondering what the fuss is all about but weather in Aotearoa New Zealand can change unexpectedly, and newcomers to NZ frequently get caught out. Sustained high or low temperatures feel oppressive when one lives where daily temperature variations can be as large as seasonal variations, and it’s not unusual to experience four seasons in one day.
And I suspect being an Aspie doesn’t help the situation. For me, anything below 15°C (59°C) is cold, and a trigger for the symptoms of Raynaud syndrome. Anything above 23°C (76°F) and I begin to sweat profusely, and within a relatively short time I’m saturated. As I’m unable to use any antiperspirants (hypersensitive skin), the result isn’t pretty.
When hot, I find clothing extremely uncomfortable – especially typical NZ male attire. I’ve resorted to wearing a yukata in an attempt to make life more bearable. It definitely helps.
The MetService (meteorological bureau) informs us that this summer is going to be exceptionally hot, dry and windy. Already many regions have seen new seasonal records set and it’s barely mid December! Ocean temperature in many places is 2°C warmer than normal for this time of year and toxic algal bloom is affecting the gathering of kaimoana (seafood) in some areas. Not good.
There’s another issue I have with the summer season: hay-fever. It’s started somewhat earlier this year than normal. Typically it doesn’t start until mid to late December, but this year it started in mid November. For me it lasts continuously for around two months. Let’s hope that this year will be the same – over in mid January instead of the usual late February.
If you get the impression I’m not fond of summer, you’d be right. Roll on Autumn!
Another Spectrum 
13 Dec, 2017 at 6:24 pm
Barry, reading about the weather variations in NZ, reminded me about this satirical piece by Mark Twain on New England’s spring weather
13 Dec, 2017 at 7:12 pm
Except that we’d say that the “Maker” designed our weather perfectly! It’s unpredictable and never boring. We tend to complain about the weather if it remains more or less the same for several days. It catches overseas visitors out all the time. They don’t understand that they need to pack for four seasons even if visiting for a week or two.
15 Dec, 2017 at 7:19 pm
our weather is friendly almost all through the year and with little or no surprises
15 Dec, 2017 at 11:09 pm
But you’ve got critters that are less than friendly and can give you nasty surprises – like biting you.
16 Dec, 2017 at 12:17 am
No, maybe mosquitoes which can easily deal with using repellents
16 Dec, 2017 at 12:36 am
Crocodiles, lions, cheetahs, rhinoceros, hyenas, snakes, elephants, not to mention corrupt politicians. You might not find them everywhere, but we don’t have any. Mind you we do have earthquakes, so perhaps it evens out ☺
17 Dec, 2017 at 4:18 am
Corrupt politicians are the worst. There should be away to kill them all and start anew.
17 Dec, 2017 at 3:51 pm
We have elections for that. I understand that’s not very effective in Kenya
18 Dec, 2017 at 4:09 am
Our election managers can’t count
14 Dec, 2017 at 3:22 am
Your normal sounds Scots, slightly cooler than I am used to having moved South. We had snow on Sunday, it lay for a bit, but has all melted since dawn today.
14 Dec, 2017 at 6:54 pm
I don’t mind the occasional 25+ day, but not for weeks in a row.
As far as a comparison with Scotland is concerned, our winter’s are more mild. It does snow where we live. Twice in the last 30 years. Once in September, and once on Christmas eve! We have around 10 frosts each year and daytime temperatures seldom drop below 10 degrees.
14 Dec, 2017 at 5:25 am
I need to come visit you for awhile. Right now, our temperature in Buffalo, NY is about 15 degrees Fahrenheit, in the sun. Then when the seasons change and your winter is our summer, you can come visit me. (I always find it a little strange that some people are in the opposite season from the one I’m in – and that the internet lets me communicate with those people in real time. And I don’t have to pay long-distance charges!)
14 Dec, 2017 at 12:01 pm
I guess because 9 out of 10 people live in the northern hemisphere, and almost all literature, movies, TV shows are created in and for that market, we are far more aware of the seasonal differences. For example around 70% of TV show we watch come from the US or the UK.
I’m not sure if I’d enjoy a Buffalo summer. as it’s much hotter than ours. Myweather2.com says this about July in Buffalo: Comfort Levels: Given average maximum temperatures and humidity levels caution is advised. Fatigue is possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity for those in high risk groups of possible heat disorders.
Whereas for January in Palmerston North (the nearest city to my home town of Feilding), it says this: Comfort Levels: Given average maximum temperatures and humidity levels generally you should not anticipate any discomfort from heat
I think a spring/autumn visit would be much kinder to me 🙂
14 Dec, 2017 at 2:41 pm
Good research! Yes, our summers can get pretty uncomfortable. Spring tends to be cold and wet, but early fall is usually pretty good. Fall is my favorite season here.
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