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Weather & Climate in Hokitika, New Zealand
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Hokitika experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winters average 61°F in January while summers reach 45°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 166 sunny days per year, below the national average of 205. Annual precipitation totals 94.0 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 20 feet.
Temperature
61°F Jan (16°C)
45°F Jul (7°C)
| Annual Average | 53.1°F |
| 2% below US avg | |
| January Average | 61°F (16°C) |
| July Average | 45°F (7°C) |
| Sunny Days | 166 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 20 ft (6 m) |
| Area | 1,729.6 sq mi (4,479.7 km²) |
| Population Density | 2/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -42.7167°N, 170.9667°W |
| Timezone | Pacific/Auckland |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
303 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.0.
| Sep 3, 2010 | 19 km NE of Methven, New Zealand | M7.0 | 114 km | 12 km |
| Jun 18, 1994 | 56 km NW of Oxford, New Zealand | M6.8 | 63 km | 14 km |
| Nov 24, 1995 | 47 km NW of Oxford, New Zealand | M6.2 | 74 km | 10 km |
| Jun 19, 1994 | 40 km N of Methven, New Zealand | M6.0 | 81 km | 10 km |
| Jan 28, 1991 | 29 km SSE of Westport, New Zealand | M5.9 | 99 km | 19 km |
| Jan 28, 1991 | 27 km SSE of Westport, New Zealand | M5.7 | 101 km | 27 km |
| Feb 10, 1990 | 90 km N of Amberley, New Zealand | M5.7 | 140 km | 10 km |
| Jan 5, 2015 | 43 km SSE of Hokitika, New Zealand | M5.6 | 44 km | 8 km |
| Sep 19, 2023 | Canterbury, New Zealand | M5.5 | 111 km | 12 km |
| May 29, 1995 | South Island of New Zealand | M5.5 | 58 km | 10 km |
| Mar 30, 1992 | 57 km NNW of Methven, New Zealand | M5.5 | 59 km | 12 km |
| Jun 21, 1994 | 47 km N of Methven, New Zealand | M5.4 | 75 km | 10 km |
| Feb 15, 1991 | 38 km S of Westport, New Zealand | M5.4 | 89 km | 31 km |
| Aug 29, 1996 | 74 km N of Amberley, New Zealand | M5.2 | 149 km | 33 km |
| Feb 10, 1990 | 85 km ESE of Westport, New Zealand | M5.1 | 139 km | 10 km |
| Sep 3, 2010 | 16 km NNW of Rakaia, New Zealand | M5.1 | 127 km | 10 km |
| Sep 4, 2010 | 15 km SW of Darfield, New Zealand | M5.0 | 125 km | 5 km |
| Sep 3, 2010 | 6 km NNE of Rolleston, New Zealand | M5.0 | 149 km | 10 km |
| Sep 3, 2010 | 8 km SSE of Darfield, New Zealand | M4.9 | 134 km | 9 km |
| Sep 3, 2010 | 4 km SSE of Oxford, New Zealand | M4.9 | 122 km | 10 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
2 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 1.5 m (5 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1913 | TASMAN SEA | Earthquake | 1.5 m | — | 111 km |
| 1869 | NEW ZEALAND | Unknown | 0.6 m | — | 1 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 61°F (16°C) | 9.1 in | |
| February | 61°F (16°C) | 5.6 in | Warmest, Driest |
| March | 59°F (15°C) | 6.9 in | |
| April | 55°F (13°C) | 8.0 in | |
| May | 49°F (10°C) | 7.9 in | |
| June | 46°F (8°C) | 7.0 in | |
| July | 45°F (7°C) | 7.3 in | Coldest |
| August | 47°F (8°C) | 7.8 in | |
| September | 50°F (10°C) | 9.6 in | Wettest |
| October | 52°F (11°C) | 9.0 in | |
| November | 55°F (13°C) | 8.0 in | |
| December | 58°F (15°C) | 7.9 in |
Hokitika has a seasonal temperature swing of 16°F / from 45°F in July to 61°F in February. Total annual precipitation is 94.0 inches, with September being the wettest month (9.6") and February the driest (5.6").