How global warming is affecting New Zealand

• 2018 was New Zealand’s second warmest year on record, Wairoa's third warmest and Napier's sixth warmest.  
• It's part of an overall warming trend, which a leading climate scientist says is a "wake-up call" for politicians to take action.  
• In its annual summary Niwa said 2018's mean of 13.41C was 0.8C above its records since 1909, equalling 1998.  
• It fell only to the hottesyear on record in 2016, 0.84C above average.  
• Last year also marked a new record for the warmest minimum temperatures, previously held by 2016.  
• In Hastings the mean temperature was 14.9C, a whopping 1.8C above normal and the warmest since records began in 1965.  
• Wairoa's mean temperature hit 15.3C, 1C above normal, and the town's third highest since records began in 1964.  
• The annual mean temperature in Napier at Niwa's climate station was 15.2C. It ranks as the 6th warmest year on record in the town since records began in 1870.  
• The warmest year on record in Napier was 1916 when the annual mean temperature was 15.8C.  
• Niwa principal scientist Chris Brandolino said 2018 was part of a larger warming trend, with four of our past six years in the top five hottest years on record.
• January was New Zealand's warmest month - ever, at 3.1C above average
• Three ex-tropical cyclones struck New Zealand in 2018: Fehi, Gita and Hola
• The hottest recorded temperature was 38.7C in Alexandra on January 30
• The coldest was -10.4C at Mt Cook on June 3

Source: Niwa