We have just had the coldest October since 1945, says NIWA, the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere. The average temperature was 10.6 degrees C, which is about 2 degrees below the usual average. We had more southerly winds than usual. The southerly comes from Antarctica and can bring rain, snow, cold winds and low temperatures. The Napier / Taupo area had heavy snow falls in the first week of October and roads were closed. Some drivers had to stay over night with local people because they could not get home. The second week in October brought snow to parts of the South Island. Snow in the Spring is difficult for farmers because this is the time when lambs are born. Lambs can easily die in the cold.
But New Zealand is a country with many different kinds of weather. Parts of the North Island, especially Waikato, Wellington, Wanganui, and the east coast had much more rain than usual. Marlborough and Canterbury also had more rain. However, the West Coast of the South Island was sunnier and drier than usual because most of the southerly winds were from the south-east. The West Coast is protected from east winds by the mountains in the middle of the South Island.
NIWA thinks that the summer will be normal for most of the North Island but a bit cooler than usual for the South island.