NIWA has released its annual climate summary, showing that 2013 was the third warmest since records began in 1909.
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research found that the nationwide average temperature was 13.4 degrees Celsius, 0.8°C above the annual average from 1971 to 2000.
Seventeen locations recorded their warmest year on record - from Tauranga down to Gore in Southland.
NIWA found that Whakatane was the sunniest place in New Zealand.
