Wednesday, June 6 was one of the coldest days of the year. Snow blanketed most of the mainland, and forced the closure of schools and roads.
Across the Southern Alps on the West Coast, farmers were expecting cold weather too, but nothing like they received in one small valley east of Hokitika.
Farmers there say the temperature went way beyond freezing, down to -10degC and below – unheard of in their part of the world.
More than 200 lives were lost in the valley that day, dairy cow lives, which means lost livelihoods.
But as Jendy Harper reports, in true West Coast spirit, they are picking up and moving on with a bit of help from their friends.
Watch the video.