If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.
The vocabulary list is now first, so that you can check the meanings of the words before you listen.
Vocabulary
north westerly wind – wind that comes from the north-west
marine – relating to the sea
heatwave – a period of time when the temperature is higher than usual
the planet – in this context, Earth
Try these activities while listening
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- When is spring in New Zealand?
- What was the average temperature nationwide?
- In which parts of the country were temperatures well above average?
- What, where, and when was the highest temperature recorded?
- Which city was the driest and sunniest?
- What are three reasons for the warm spring?
3. Language focus: Superlative adjectives
Fill in the gaps using the correct superlative adjective, then listen to or read the recording again to check your answers.
- New Zealand experienced its ____________ spring ever this year.
- The ____________ temperature was 33 degrees in Hastings on 27 November.
- Tauranga was the ____________, Hamilton was the ____________ and ____________ ____________, Christchurch was the ____________ and ____________, and Dunedin was the ____________.
News story
Data has confirmed that New Zealand experienced its warmest spring ever this year. Spring here is from September to November.
According to the report from Earth Sciences New Zealand, the average temperature nationwide was 13.5 degrees Celsius. That was 1.3 degrees above the 1991-2020 average for spring and the warmest spring since records began in 1909. Temperatures were well above average for most of the North Island and eastern parts of the South Island from Marlborough to Dunedin. The only areas which had near average temperatures were western parts of Southland and Otago and much of the West Coast. The highest temperature was 33 degrees in Hastings on 27 November.
Of the six main centres in spring 2025, Tauranga was the warmest, Hamilton was the wettest and least sunny, Christchurch was the driest and sunniest, and Dunedin was the coolest.
According to Earth Sciences New Zealand, one reason for the warm spring was a north-westerly wind flow. A lot of warm air came from the Tasman Sea and flowed over both the North and South Islands. In addition, the sea surrounding the country was experiencing a marine heatwave. When warm air flows over warm water, the air becomes even warmer when it reaches the land. Another reason for the new record high temperatures is climate change. Overall the planet is warming, so new records are occurring more often.
Answers – you don’t have to write a complete sentence as long as you have the key idea in your answer.
a. When is spring in New Zealand?
September to November
b. What was the average temperature nationwide?
13.5 degrees Celsius
c. In which parts of the country were temperatures well above average?
Most of the North Island and eastern parts of the South Island from Marlborough to Dunedin
d. What, where, and when was the highest temperature recorded?
33 degrees in Hastings on 27 November
e. Which city was the driest and sunniest?
Christchurch
f. What are three reasons for the warm spring?
1. A north-westerly wind flow: a lot of warm air came from the Tasman Sea; 2. the sea surrounding the country was experiencing a marine heatwave: when warm air flows over warm water, the air becomes even warmer when it reaches the land; 3. climate change.