The wild weather across the Tasman is in stark contrast to what most of New Zealand is experiencing.
But while most are making up for last summer's dismal showing, some inland regions here are struggling with the sweltering heat.
So much sunshine in the capital is a novelty. Jake Broughton came all the way to Wellington from Whangarei to enjoy it.
“The weather is pretty mean,” he says.
Katherine Baird was also enjoying the weather.
“I'm used to it being freezing. [It's] the best weather ever.”
It’s not quite the hottest weather recorded New Zealand though. That was in Rangiora in February, 1973 where they had 42.4degC weather.
Almost 40 years later, a bubble of high pressure has been sitting directly over the country for days, pushing away any other weather patterns affecting the Pacific and Australia.
Metservice meteorologist Daniel Corbett says this warm weather could last for a while longer.
“We stay with the fine weather and that means that it can get hot, especially in inland areas where the temperature can be in the 20s or the early 30s.”
In the Wairarapa, temperatures are currently pushing 30degC. It's predicted they may go as high as 32degC at the end of the week.
However, the punishing heat is putting pressure on farm irrigation systems, which are going 24 hours a day to make sure enough grass grows to feed stock. Wairarapa farmer Lewis Herrick says it really is necessary.
“Irrigation is a lot of work, but you'd be buggered without it.”
In Hawke's Bay the continued high temperatures are making firefighters nervous. The council has imposed a total fire ban and Fire Service area manager Chris Nicoll says people seem to be taking care.
“We're very extreme here but we've had a very quiet year. We're very thankful for that. We're hoping that's general public awareness.”
But the large high is expected to break down over the next few days. Cloud and some rain are expected to arrive early next week.
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