Of 30 sites analysed around the country, since 1972, the annual average temperature has climbed at 28 of them over summer - and across all in winter. Last year, the annual average land-surface temperature in New Zealand was the fourth highest since records began, way back in 1909. Focus: Global Warming and Climate Change causes and effects. This measure counts the total number of degrees that the average temperature is above a base temperature - typically 10C - each day. At the current rate, the global average temperature is likely to cross the threshold of 1.5C above the pre-industrial level within the next 10 to 30 years.

Source: New Zealand Herald October 14, 2020 21:55 UTC