After a miserable winter, New Zealanders can look forward to a warmer than average summer, experts say.
The Niwa National Climate Centre has predicted that much of summer will be warmer and drier than average throughout the country.
Only the West Coast of the South Island and inland Otago would have slightly lower or "average" temperatures.
Rainfall levels would remain "near normal" for all except the west and east coasts of the South Island, which could expect slightly more and less rain respectively.
The South Island could also expect stronger than normal northwesterly winds.
Soil conditions were already drier than normal in many eastern regions and would need to be monitored, Niwa said.