Canterbury sweltered in near-record temperatures today reaching 40 degrees in some parts.
Roads melted and streets emptied as people headed indoors or to the beach to try and beat the heat.
Trying to keep cool in the soaring heat was a struggle for Cantabrians and by mid-afternoon unofficial readings had temperatures reaching 40 degrees.
MetService records show the highest ever recorded temperature in Christchurch as in 1979 when it hit 35.9 degrees.
Local weather watchers say this heat is coming from across the Tasman.
“The hot air we have had in the last couple of days particularly in Canterbury has moved across the Tasman from Australia,” says Richard Green of Weather Watch.
“They've had it for a few days and now it's our turn.”
But most Cantabrians aren't worried about where it came from just how to escape it.
“I hate it, I hate it! I'd rather have winter any day,” Christchurch local Dave Wright told 3 News.
But not everyone was complaining.
“People pay a lot of money to go to Australia for heat like this and we can have it here in Christchurch every year,” says Christchurch resident Michelle Moore
Roading crews have well and truly put away the grit machines from winter. This afternoon they were spreading chips to stop the northern motorway from disintegrating.
While roads are melting, the countryside is drying out.
The heat has brought some Norwest wind that's put fire crews on high alert and fire bans in place.
"These high temperatures are causing very low humidities as well and that means there's very little moisture in the air and the chances of a fire occurring are great,” John Barnes from the National Rural Fire Authority told 3 News.
And for those who find it too hot to handle, there's some relief on the horizon - with temperatures due to cool down over the weekend.
3 News