Taranaki clinches New Zealand's sunniest region crown for another year

Wednesday, 11 January 2023

Taranaki has retained its title as sunniest place in the country.

Taranaki is once again the sunniest region in Aotearoa New Zealand, taking out the title for the second year running, in what was the hottest year on record for the country since 1909.

Last year, the region pipped Bay of Plenty for the crown by 30 hours, nabbing the top spot with 2592 hours of recorded sunshine.

On Wednesday, NIWA released its annual climate summary for 2022, and within it lay the hotly anticipated news of whether Taranaki would retain the title, which it did with 2659 hours, 78 more than its closest rival.

The wider Nelson region, came in second with 2581, while Bay of Plenty recorded 2526 hours of sunshine last year.

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New Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom was in no doubt he would keep hold of New Zealand's Sunshine Cup for another year.

NIWA said further to the final tally, a total of 358.6 hours of sunshine in New Plymouth during the month of January 2022 was an all-time monthly sunshine record for New Zealand.

New Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom never doubted the accolade would be in the bag for another year.

New Plymouth MP Glen Bennett's ability to rib fellow Labour colleagues about living in the country's sunniest place got a shot in the arm by Wednesday’s news.

“We specialise in weather in Taranaki. There is heaps of rain, plenty of wind and lots of sun.”

Getting outside is always high on Holdom’s priority list when the sun’s out, enjoying walks with wife Melissa, mountain biking at Lake Mangamahoe or taking the whānau for a swim at the Inglewood pool.

East End beach is a favourite swim spot for New Plymouth MP Glen Bennett, along with hundreds of others of Taranaki residents. (File photo)

2022 represented the hottest 12 months on record for New Zealand since meteorologists started to measure temperatures in 1909, but it was also an unusually wet year, with La Nina a primary driver of the country’s weather.

Holdom had no doubt the climate was changing in the region.

Great weather at the Okato pools in Taranaki in January 2022 saw Felix Rook, 3, enjoying the chance to cool off and have fun. It turned out the month was record-breaking in terms of sunshine. (File photo).

“We’re right at the front of that.”

He hoped 2023 would bring a funding boost to the region from central Government, in terms of support for a just transition to a low carbon economy.

Climate change was also on the mind of New Plymouth MP Glen Bennett, of Labour, who said it was a cautionary note which couldn’t be ignored while the region basked in the glory of being the sunniest place in New Zealand again.

“It’s lovely to have a beautiful summer, but we need to deal with the impacts of climate change as they are happening today.”

Meanwhile, and on a much lighter note, Bennett said the gentle ribbing he gave fellow Labour MP, Nelson’s Rachel Boyack, about Taranaki’s sun supremacy would continue in earnest.

“Even in the House there is a bit of banter about us being the sunniest place, not only in terms of sunshine hours but also how bright our people are.”

For Victor Higgins, general manager of Bach on Breakwater, near Port Taranaki, clear blue skies were good for business.

With the eatery located near the water, along from Ngāmotu beach, and close to an access point to the Coastal Walkway, sunny weather often resulted in hordes of people coming and going from the area, who ended up stopping in for a coffee or a bite to eat.

“The sun definitely draws people down here more.”

NIWA’s annual climate summary was released on the same day parts of the North Island came in for a hammering thanks to ex-Cyclone Hale, which resulted in Tairāwhiti/Gisborne in a state of local emergency due to the severe weather.

Taranaki copped some of the remnants too on Wednesday, in the form of wind and heavy rain.

However, by Friday, the sun is set to make a reappearance in the region’s skies and will stick around all weekend, with temperatures ranging from 19C to 24C around the province.