People enjoying sunset at West Auckland’s Bethells Beach Te Henga last night. A hot weekend is forecast across much of northern and eastern New Zealand. Photo / Michael Craig
The hottest temperatures are expected in Hawke’s Bay on Sunday, with 37C forecast for Hastings, 35C for neighbouring Napier and strong northwesterly winds for both, along with fellow heat-targets Marlborough and Canterbury.
The Sunday scorcher in Hawke’s Bay would follow 30C+ temperatures tomorrow and Saturday for both cities, and on varying days across a swathe of locations from Northland to Canterbury.
Heat alerts, which are based on individual threshholds for each centre, are usually issued the day before, MetService meteorologist Clare O’Connor said this morning.
They’re likely to be issued for hot weather expected in Whakatāne, Napier and Hastings tomorrow, and possibly Blenheim and Kaikōura.
🌡️ Hot temperatures will be arriving later this week, especially in parts of the North Island.
⬇️ The images below show where there’s a chance for temperatures 30°C or higher.
🥵 Particularly hot temperatures at least in the mid-30s are signalled for Hawke’s Bay this weekend. pic.twitter.com/H964kQDqwO
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) January 7, 2026
Heat alerts are also likely for Tauranga, Whakatāne, Gisborne, Napier, Hastings and Blenheim on Saturday, with a 31C forecast high in Kerikeri also potentially putting it in the mix, O’Connor said.
“That’s pretty hot for Northland.”
Those at risk of heat alerts on Sunday – expected to be the hottest day for most across the country – were Napier, Hastings, Gisborne, Whangārei, Kerikeri and possibly Tauranga, she said.
“Sunday’s when the majory of the hot air arrives and makes it up north.”
Other areas, including Auckland, Waikato, Rotorua/Taupō, Wairarapa, Nelson and South Canterbury, aren’t tipped to reach 30C during the hot spell but it’ll still be a warm day with highs in the mid-to-late 20s this weekend.
“[It will be] 28C, 29C”, MetService forecaster Braydon White said of Auckland’s expected high on Sunday.
“Getting near 30C is pretty impressive for Auckland.”
However, several spots would breeze past that number, with MetService heat alerts expected to be issued.
Those forecast to join the 30C or more club at some point over the next three days include Whangārei (31C on Sunday), Tauranga (30C on Saturday and Sunday), Whakatāne (30C tomorrow and Saturday), Kaikōura (30C on Sunday), Christchurch (31C Friday and Sunday).
But it’s the east that will experience the most sustained heat – and threatening winds.
Gisborne is forecast to reach 30C tomorrow and 32C on Saturday and Sunday, and Blenheim 32C, 31C and 30C over the next three days – with northwesterly gales with gales of more than 100km/h expected in Marlborough and Canterbury on Sunday, O’Connor said.
Severe gales were also expected in inland Canterbury, Otago, Southland, Wellington and Wairarapa on Saturday.
Hawke’s Bay – where the hottest temperatures are forecast – was likely to be spared the worst of the winds on Friday and Saturday, but could have winds of 40km/h to 50km/h, with stronger gusts, the meteorologist said.
“That wouldn’t meet watch or warning thresholds … [but] the fire risk is definitely something to watch out for.”
Twin highs of 33C are forecast in Napier tomorrow and Saturday before a scorching 35C on Sunday.
It’ll be even hotter in neighbouring Hastings, among some locations where forecast highs have nudged a degree higher in the last 24 hours.
A high of 34C was now expected tomorrow – up from the earlier forecast of 33C – along with 35C on Saturday and a blistering 37C on Sunday, almost 12C above the city’s January average.
Hot temperatures, strong winds and dry vegetation are expected to increase the fire risk in some eastern parts of the country this weekend. Photo / Fire and Emergency NZ
Sizzling temperatures, wind and deceptively dry vegetation had already led to preparations for potential “spike” fire risk days this weekend, Fire and Emergency Hawke’s Bay assistant fire commander Jason Hill said.
“We’re really concerned about the Napier-Heretaunga [Hastings] area and going right through to Central Hawke’s Bay and northern Te Rerenga areas … there’s an extremely high potential that if any fire breaks out it could be quite serious and extremely fast-moving and fast-spreading … [and] extremely difficult to control.”
The public could help by calling 111 if they saw smoke, keeping driveways and accessways clear for emergency vehicles and minimising the use of “anything that could create a spark”, such as welders, grinders or lawnmowers, he said.
Fireworks were banned in part of the region, and in others, and Hill, encouraged all Kiwis to use the nationwide www.checkitsalright.nz website to see what fire-related activities – if any – were allowed in their areas.
Another long summer day entices people to the water at Bethells Beach Te Henga in West Auckland. Photo / Michael Craig
The hot weather sweeping across the Tasman from heatwave-stricken Australia prompted MetService to remind people in the hottest spots to stay out of the sun unless they had plenty of water and sun protection.
“And make sure pets also have plenty of water and shade, and if you’re taking them out on a walk, check out how hot the concrete is – because if you can’t touch it comfortably, then pets also can’t walk on it comfortably”, MetService meteorologist Ngaire Wotherspoon said.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLNZ) was also reminding beachgoers to stick to patrolled beaches and swim between the flags, especially on Auckland’s West Coast beaches, where the more dangerous low tide would coincide with the afternoon heat-peak this weekend.
The hot weather is expected to make for a busy weekend at beaches, including the popular Piha on Auckland’s West Coast. Photo / Alex Burton
Anyone swimming outside patrol hours or at unpatrolled beaches must know their limits and understand the conditions, SLNZ general manager Chris Emmett said.
“Know how to float, find the safest place to swim – and if in doubt, stay out – take care of yourself and others, and know how to get help.”
If caught in a rip, relax, float and conserve energy, raise your hand and signal for help, and then ride the rip until it stops, or you can swim parallel to the shore to escape, Emmett said.
“Never try and swim directly against the rip … it’s faster than a normal person can swim against it.”