In its review of the past three months, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research said rainfall was at record lows or near-record lows in these parts.
In contrast, conditions were very wet in southern Hawke's Bay, the Tararua district, and Wanganui which had 120% of its normal rainfall.
Elsewhere, spring rainfall was near normal. Temperatures were near average in Northland, Coromandel, the Bay of Plenty and the southern lakes district. It was cooler than usual in most other regions.
The South Island came out on top again with sunshine. Waikato, Taupo, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Hawke's Bay were also sunny but it was very cloudy in the west from Taranaki to Wellington.
Niwa said spring was characterised by stronger than normal southwest winds over New Zealand, consistent with El Nino conditions.
Of the six main centres, Tauranga was the warmest, Wellington the wettest, Dunedin the driest and Christchurch the sunniest and coolest.