With the weeklong scorcher pushing on, two Bay of Plenty towns were the hottest places in New Zealand on 29 January 2019. 

According to MetService, Kawerau was the hottest in the morning of the 29th January, reaching 30.6C. It was closely followed by fellow Bay of Plenty town Whakatane, which recorded a morning high of 30C. Whitianga in the Coromandel Peninsula was the third hottest with a high of 28.5C.

Auckland also had a predicted high of 30C, which would make it the hottest day of summer for the region so far.

Taumarunui is expected to eventually be the hottest spot in the North Island (29 January), reaching a high of 34C. Much of the South Island, however, is likely to reach highs of about 35C or 36C.

Thursday is expected to be the hottest day of the week, with temperatures in some places reaching between 36C and 38C in the afternoon.

Source: TVNZ.co.nz