Eight out of the 10 warmest years ever recorded in New Zealand up to 2022 have been within the last decade, according to data released by Stats NZ today.

“Average annual temperatures have increased nationwide in the last century and 2022 was the warmest year on record,” says environment and agricultural statistics senior manager Stuart Jones.

Data collected over the last 114 years from sites across the country show long-term changes in climate, with the trend of temperatures increasing.

“New Zealand’s annual average temperature rose by 1.26 degrees Celsius between 1909 and 2022,” says Stuart.

Stats NZ updated its temperature environmental indicator showing national average temperatures between 1909 and 2022, based on the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research's (NIWA) ‘seven-station’ temperature series.

It also shows temperatures at 30 sites around the country from at least 1972 to 2022.

The average annual temperatures at each site had increased between 1972 and 2022. These trends were reflected by seasons too, with each site recording warmer winters, and 28 out of the 30 sites experiencing warmer summers and autumns.

New Zealand trends are consistent with global trends of average temperatures, which have increased by about 1 degree Celsius over the last century. Rising temperatures can have a significant effect on agriculture, energy demand, ecosystems, and recreation.

As well as the temperature indicator, Stats NZ published the following atmosphere and climate indicators today: drought, rainfall, extreme rainfall, extreme wind, frost and growing degree days, El Niño Southern Oscillation, atmospheric ozone, and greenhouse gas concentrations.

As the latest data is up to the end of 2022, extreme weather events in 2023, such as cyclones Hale and Gabrielle, are not reflected in these indicators.

As part of a joint Environmental Reporting programme with partner Ministry for the Environment, Stats NZ publishes and updates environmental indicators on the pressures, state, and impacts of New Zealand’s environment including air, marine, fresh water, land, and atmosphere and climate.  

The indicators published this week are part of a larger group that will inform the Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ’s report ‘Our atmosphere and climate 2023’, to be published on October 11 2023.