Craig Cooper: Get the message out, 'We are hot'

Whangarei was top with the highest annual average temperature in 2015 at 16.1C.

There are many annual surveys and statistical lists New Zealand towns can find their way on to.

Not all of them are lists to be proud of. But the fact Whangarei is New Zealand's hottest town is something we can make surely make marketing hay out of while the sun shines.

It's not just Whangarei, six out of the country's 10 hottest towns or districts are in Northland.

Whangarei was top with the highest annual average temperature in 2015 at 16.1C, followed by Kaitaia, North Shore, Auckland's Mangere and Whangaparaoa with 16C.

Cape Reinga, Kerikeri, Dargaville, Kaikohe and Auckland Airport shared an average high of 15.7C.

The fact that we are talking about average temperatures, rather than one-offs only adds integrity to the claim that we, here in Northland, are the hottest.

We've known that for a long time, of course, that's why someone coined the phrase "the winterless North". It's a phrase the stats back up, by the way,

South Island towns had higher individual temperatures - Timaru peaked with 36.4C last January - but their winter temperatures are colder than ours. And their average temperatures are less.

Perhaps one of the things that stops Northland from making more noise about our temperatures is the fact the hot weather isn't always welcome, just ask any farmer you know.

But if there is an industry that could take some of the region's economic weight off our farmer's backs, surely it is tourism.

Whangarei - love it here, 'cos we're hot!