The weather is set to cool off after locals basked in blazing heat along the east coast of the country yesterday.
Napier experienced the hottest temperatures on Monday with a high of 31C, closely followed by Hastings and Ashburton on 30C, as a strong northwesterly swept the country.
Hawkes Bay locals escaped the heat to Ocean Beach, leading to the beach's "busiest day so far".
Ocean Beach Kiwi SLSC head guard Andy Callinicos said at its peak, there had been about 1000 people enjoying the beach between 12pm and 2pm.
"It's been a scorcher," he said yesterday. "The beach has been quite busy, all the car parks were full".
Today, the Hawkes Bay and east coast of the South Island will experience cooler temperatures said MetService duty meteorologist April Clark.
Napier is expected to reach 25C with a mostly fine day expected for the Hawkes Bay.