Temperatures have topped 30C on Sunday - and there's more to come.
WeatherWatch says most places will lean dry with hot conditions inland today - and for the next few days ahead as high pressure moves through.
"Parts of Central Otago will be in the low to mid-30s today while Hamilton and large parts of Waikato and sheltered inland parts of Auckland climb into the late 20s and even early 30s," it says in a statement.
"It's not just the top and bottom of the country - inland parts of Nelson and Marlborough and up through Manawatu too, many parts of inland NZ will be closer to 30C today and/or the days ahead."
A midday MetService update showed which parts of the country are currently top of the temperature leaderboard.
"Lower Hutt leads the pack already surpassing 30C," it wrote.
"Invercargill is the second-warmest place in the country! And there's still a whole afternoon to go..."
NIWA's forecast for the start of next week shows good news for people who like hot weather, with a high chance of temperatures above 25C for the east side of the South Island and a decent portion of the North Island on Monday. This shifts up-country on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"It's likely that several locations will reach (at least) 30C," NIWA adds.
