New Zealand is experiencing a hot summer this year. The East Coast of both the North and South Islands have had temperatures in the 30s. Central Otago has also had a heat wave and even Northland has had higher temperatures than normal. While Auckland does not usually get such high temperatures, it has been very humid and uncomfortable.
With the hot, dry weather comes a risk of grass fires or forest fires. Last week the fire in Mahia burnt for three days. Nelson also had a major fire. However, we have been very fortunate that we have had nothing as bad as the state of Victoria in Australia. As many as 65 people have died in the fires, most of them in cars trying to escape. Temperatures in that area have been in the mid 40s. Some of that heat has travelled across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand but it has cooled a little while crossing the ocean.