Tauranga was feeling the heat yesterday with temperatures more than six degrees hotter than average.
The maximum temperature in the city yesterday was measured at 26.9C according to MetService.
This made the city the warmest main centre in the country, but the title for highest reading overall went to Kawerau with 28C.
Rotorua recorded 25.3C and Whakatane hit 25C.
The warm weather was set to continue throughout the week said MetService meteorologist Elke Louw.