The long, cold winter is drawing to an end with a warmer than usual August, but spring will bring strong winds, average temperatures and little rain for New Zealand.
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research says a weak El Nino weather pattern is expected to persist until autumn next year.
NIWA says May, June and July were the coldest, with early signs of spring showing during much of August.
However, spring temperatures are likely to be average - except in the north and east of the North Island, where they may be cooler.
