Climate scientists have discovered that the coldest temperature ever recorded in New Zealand was -25.6°C.
The temperature was recorded at Ranfurly in Central Otago in 1903.
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) scientists discovered the new record for the lowest daily minimum temperature while looking at records entered in its national climate database.
The previous record was -21.6°C, recorded at Ophir in Central Otago.
Climate scientist Georgina Griffiths says it is not surprising the record is from the Central Otago area, as it is the only region with a continental climate of very hot summers and extremely cold winters.
She says they know the early 1900s had cold spells and other data collected in the area showed similar freezing conditions.
The maximum temperature on record is a scorching 42.4°C observed at Rangiora in 1973.
