People in Dunedin and surrounding areas flocked to the beach on Saturday as scorching heat baked the lower South Island.
People flock to Dunedin's St Clair Beach as temperatures pass 30 degrees Celsius Photo: RNZ
MetService forecasters say the highest temperatures in the southern heatwave were recorded in Dunedin and Alexandra, which both reached 33 degrees Celsius.
And a forecaster says most inland parts of Southland and Otago were above 30 degrees.
Surf livesavers say hundreds of people descended on Otago beaches, while The Warehouse says it sold dozens of inflatable pools and boogie boards.
A surf life saver at St Kilda Beach, Matt Corboy, says people were taking to the sea to escape the heat.
"She's pretty scorching ... upwards of 31 degrees and sunny-as .. and she's definitely feeling like its getting hotter," says Mr Corboy.
"Definitely a few more people than normal on the beach".
MetService forecaster Sarah Garlick says Dunedin was already at 29C by the early afternoon and the temperature rose through the afternoon.
Ms Garlick says a front moving in on Saturday night is expected to bring cool temperatures on Sunday, although the skies should remain clear.
