The Northland town of Kerikeri topped the heat stakes for the country on Sunday with a temperature of nearly 38 degrees Celcius.
MetService said TV weather segments announced Napier had the hottest day, at 36 degrees.
However, Kerikeri recorded a temperature of 37.6 degrees at 7pm.
Locals say they have had a series of scorchers this summer but Sunday was one of the hottest ever.
