Winter arrived late this year, but was announced with two extreme polar outbreaks that broke records.
The NIWA national climate summary for June to August this year shows a picture of a relatively dry winter in many regions.
Climate scientist Georgina Griffiths said sunshine totals were above normal for many regions.
"It was a generally sunny and rather dry winter, and was much warmer than usual in the north and east of the North Island, as well as Central Otago and the Lakes district.''
The coldest season of the year began with an exceptionally warm burst, with June finishing up as the third warmest on record.
Throughout July, temperatures remained high and were punctured with a stormy, unsettled and extremely strong westerly wind.
A polar blast arrived on July 24, lasting for three days as bitterly cold air chilled Kiwis across the nation.
The second polar outbreak arrived on August 14, and wreaked havoc across the country as heavy snow levels caused schools and roads to close over the four day period.
Thermometers rose when spring-like temperatures crept in at the end of August.
Of the six main centres in winter, Auckland was the warmest, Christchurch the coldest, Hamilton the wettest, Dunedin the driest and Tauranga the sunniest.
The coldest temperature recorded was -10.2 degrees in Manapouri, Southland on July 26, a new local record.
The warmest temperature was recorded on June 5 at Whitianga, on the North Island's Coromandel Coast.
Cape Turnagain in Manawatu-Wanganui was hit with the highest gust, peaking at 189km/h.
