Holidaymakers might be enjoying one of the hottest summers on record, but swimmers are finding the water colder than usual.
Temperature readings have confirmed beach-goer reports that the water is chilly, but it is perhaps not quite as chilly as they might think.
Swimmer reports including the comments "brrrr" and "it's bloody cold" prompted the Bay of Plenty Times to seek expert confirmation.
Metservice meteorologist Lisa Murray scanned monthly data and found that water temperatures had been relatively cool around most of New Zealand's coast apart from at some regions in the South Island.
"Up where you guys are it's a little bit cooler, but not much cooler than usual," she said.