Summer sizzle: 30C-plus heatwave looms for New Zealand

Those lucky enough to make it out to Hahei beach in the Coromandel yesterday spent the day showered in sunshine, with the mercury reaching a high of 29C in Whitianga.

And the beach town wasn't the only place to near 30C in the North Island.

Auckland had a high of 27C and Wellington reached 26C.

Some of the hottest temperatures the country has seen this summer will sear southern regions next week as a heatwave sends temperatures soaring as high as 34C for days on end.

Canterbury and north and central Otago are set to swelter in intense heat throughout the coming week, when one of the country's most popular holiday spots, Wanaka, is expected to be in a meteorological heatwave.

Wanaka's golden run started yesterday, when the mercury hit 30C and will continue to get hotter, reaching 34C on Monday.

It is expected to remain above 30C on Tuesday.

A heatwave is when the daily maximum temperature is higher than the average maximum by at least 5C for five consecutive days.