Rainfall has been well below normal in most of the country, with Auckland having a record dry February.

NIWA figures show many regions received less than half their normal February rain. Auckland received less than ten percent of its regular level.

Most regions of the country have also experienced above average temperatures with the highest, of 35.6 degrees, recorded at Cheviot on Monday of last week.

Of the main centres, Auckland was the driest and Tauranga the warmest. Dunedin was the sunniest but also the wettest and coolest