Snow in Rotorua

Snow on Mount Tarawera, Mount Ngongotaha, and at Mamaku is not uncommon during the winter months but snow falling around the city is a more rare occurrence.

Nicola Marvin and Vanessa Marvin play in the snow at Mt Ngongotaha. Credit: Daily Post, Monday 7 September 1981, p.1.

On the 13th July 2017 around 12.45pm snow was seen falling in the city. It was not heavy enough to settle on the ground. Library staff remember standing at the windows at the Transition Library in Pukuatua Street watching the snow fall.

Metservice meteorologist Tom Adams told the Daily Post that snow fall in Rotorua was a 'a good indication locals won't have to go far to find snow'. Adams added that the snow in the city is 'sleety snow' and that this type of snow 'never lasts long but it's pretty cool to have it down at those residential levels.'

The outskirts of Rotorua, such as Mamaku, Waikite Valley, Reporoa and Broadland had heavier snowfall, and many locals made the trip to play in the snow. Rebecca Breitler of Ngongotaha took her sons Daniel, 15, and Josh, 13 to Mamaku to see the snow. She told the Daily Post that 'it's beautiful but cold, and good timing for the school holidays.'

Snow falls in Haupapa Street, 13 July 2017. Credit: Daily Post

Snow at Waikite Valley, 13 July 2017. Credit: Daily Post

Previously snow fell in the city on the 15th August 2011. It was reported that is was first time in at least five decades of snow falling in the city centre.

On the same day snow fell in downtown Auckland for the first time since the 1930s. It was also reported that the level of snow that fell in Wellington had not been seen since at least the 1970s.

Rotorua Primary School principal John Naera told the Daily Post that is was the first time it had snowed in his eighteen years at school. He said 'it was a real experience for [students], some of them haven't [touched] snow before. They were running around with open mouths and with their tongues out trying to catch snow flakes.'

Snowing in the city, 15 August 2011. Image and video credit: Adrian Hodge Photography

In 2006 while it did not snow in the city. There was another record. The maximum temperature for the 19th June was only 5.9°C, which was the lowest since at least 1964.

Also on 29th June 1994 while it did not snow in the city snow was reported falling in the areas of Fenton Park, Koutu and Sunnybrook. Orion Street resident Doug McLellan told the Daily Post that it was the first time snow had fell since he moved to Sunnybrook four years earlier.

This week Rotorua reached its coldest temperature for the year with a morning temperature of -2.6°C on Thursday. Will we see snow again?


This post was written by Graeme. With thanks to Adrian Hodge Photography and the Daily Post.