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Wednesday 15 January 2025
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We’re the country’s sunniest region PAULA HULBURT It’s official, Marlborough is the sunniest place in New Zealand. Marlborough has taken the sunshine crown for 2024 it has been announced. NIWA have revealed official results for sunshine hours across the country. The region has recorded 2769 hours of sunshine, beating closest rivals Nelson by nine hours. Marlborough Mayor Nadine Taylor is magnanimous about the win, saying she enjoyed a friendly wager with Nelson Mayor Nick Smith. “My commiserations to Nelson, who came a close second,” she says. “Mayor Nick Smith and I had a friendly wager of a bottle of wine on the outcome. I look forward to raising a glass with him and celebrating the Top of the South as the sunniest part of New Zealand in 2024. Marlborough is consistently one of the sunniest places in New Zealand and it’s very pleasing to see us back at number one again.”
According to NIWA, the wider Nelson region recorded 2760 sunshine hours (recorded in Richmond). Bay of Plenty took third place with 2734 hours (recorded at Tauranga), and Tasman was fourth coming in with a total of 2665 hours (recorded at Tākaka). In 2023, Blenheim was the fifth sunniest town in New Zealand, with 2,492 hours of sunshine. This was 99% of the town’s long-term average. Blenheim also had its sunniest winter on record in 2023, with 596.6 hours of sunshine. Most places in New Zealand receive more than 2000 hours of sunshine annually. “Marlborough is a great place to live, work and visit, with a wonderful climate, great communities and beautiful landscapes,” Nadine says. This is yet more positive news for our visitor sector.” Metservice says the rest of January is set to be below average summer temperatures with more cloudy days forecast.
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Marlborough Mayor Nadine Taylor basks in the glory of Marlborough taking the title of the sunniest place in New Zealand for 2024. Photo: Paula Hulburt.
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