> From the WeatherWatch archives
While Nelson gloats about being the sunniest place in New Zealand – Whakatane can feel hard done by.
Niwa has released its climate summary for 2009, which shows Nelson clocked up nearly 2,600 hours of sunshine over the year.
Climate Scientist Dr James Renwick says due to technical problems, Niwa was unable to properly calculate Whakatane’s sunshine. He says for the first four months they could not record Whakatane’s hours in the sun, but in the last eight months it was neck and neck with Nelson.
Dr Renwick says Tauranga was the second sunniest destination in 2009, followed by Blenheim.
– NEWSTALKZB
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Before you add a new comment, take note this story was published on 13 Jan 2010.
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Tom on 14/01/2010 12:08am
As RW has said, it was an exceptional year for the Bay of Plenty and unlikely to be repeated. So the the record sunshine levels are for last year only and attempts of places like Whakatane to imply they have been “cheated” of the sunniest spot are ridiculous and sound like attempts to gain publicity for tourism.
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RW on 13/01/2010 9:43pm
The Bay of Plenty had an exceptionally sunny year, with Tauranga having its highest ever total in records that go back to 1932 (and it beat Blenheim, the first time since 1946 it has beaten either Blenheim or Nelson). These circumstances are not likely to be repeated this year. Previous Whakatane sites gave the top national reading only once in the period 1957-2000 – in 1957. Since then no North Island location has taken the title. Quite a bit has to happen before any NI place can claim to be the sunniest in NZ – history is against it.
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