Eden and Skye Copeland from the yacht Freeranger (left front), Tiril and Frida Johnsrud from Tempus (left back), Emilie Brandt-Kjelsen (second from right) from Yggdrasil and Suzi Clark, who was visiting her family on Freeranger, are pictured enjoying ice creams in the Town Basin on Thursday. Photo / Denise Piper
Eden and Skye Copeland from the yacht Freeranger (left front), Tiril and Frida Johnsrud from Tempus (left back), Emilie Brandt-Kjelsen (second from right) from Yggdrasil and Suzi Clark, who was visiting her family on Freeranger, are pictured enjoying ice creams in the Town Basin on Thursday. Photo / Denise Piper
Whangārei businesses are sizzling in the hot weather, which owners say has encouraged locals to get out and open their wallets.
Whangārei’s temperature was forecast to reach 27C on Thursday, which would have been among the top-five hottest days for November for the city, MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said.
Theweek’s weather has come from a north-to-northeast flow bringing hot and humid weather from the subtropics, she said.
“It seems to have been a long winter where people had to knuckle down. I’m just sensing around town, people are getting around and it’s great to see.”
De-Ath said Bocky Boo was so busy selling gelatos, he had to step in to help make more of the icy treat – the first time in 18 months staff needed help making gelato.
On Thursday, he was making lemon, lime and bitters, and mango, he said.
The hot weather was also good for The Fudge Farm in the Town Basin, co-owner Kayla Harris said.
Customers were busy buying cold drinks, ice creams and iced coffees on Thursday to help beat the heat, she said.
Bocky Boo Gelato owner Chris De-Ath says business has been so good, he had to help staff make more gelato on Thursday. Photo / Denise Piper
“As soon as it’s sunny, it’s fantastic for us.”
Ice cream consumer Ken Smith said he was enjoying the hot weather during the day but found it a bit hot at night.
His wife Jenny Smith, who was also enjoying an ice cream, said she found the weather a bit too hot to walk in.
Suzi Clark, a “grandy” from London visiting her family on the yacht Freeranger in the Town Basin, said she found the sun a bit fierce in the middle of the day.
But the burning sun did not diminish her view of Whangārei, which she called her favourite marina in the world.
Ken and Jenny Smith from Manu say the temperatures have been a little bit hot at night and for exercising but are great for eating ice cream. Photo / Denise Piper
Clark has recently travelled to San Diego and Papeete to visit her daughter and grandchildren as they sail around the world.
NorthChamber chief executive Leah McKerrow said her gut feeling was the warm, sunny weather would be good news for local businesses.
With retail sales on this week and Christmas just around the corner, she thought people would be getting out and spending.
McKerrow thought the Northland economy was starting to show green shoots of growth, meaning a turnaround in fortunes. She said the recent reduction to the Official Cash Rate would help.
Hottest temperatures for Whangārei in November:
28.7C – 2019
28.5C – 1997
27.4C – 2015
27.3C – 2019
27.0C – 2013; forecast for 2025.
Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.
