Northland has record of snowfalls

Weather officials recorded history this week when a light dusting of snow fell atop the Tangihua Ranges.
Officially it has never snowed in Northland, but Whatitiri resident Grant Conaghan knew otherwise.
Mr Conaghan had heard tales of snow on them thar hills and was delighted to capture images of snow atop the Tangihua Ranges, 25km southwest of Whangarei, on his way to work
It was a historic moment the officials said - with Niwa senior climate scientist Georgina Griffiths saying there were no official records of snow ever having fallen on Northland.
That was because weather stations were at ground level, whereas snow would fall in the ranges.
But a delve into old Northern Advocate papers held at the Whangarei Library and local history books revealed newspaper reports of previous snowfalls in the winterless North.
On July 27, 1939, it was reported snow fell during the night on the Otaua Hills, about 10 miles from Kaikohe and also on the Taheke-Waimatenui Hills.
"The fall was very slight but was sufficient to be noticeable from roads in the district and did not thaw until late this morning."
Residents told the reporter snow had fallen twice before.
It was also reported about 10.30am on the same day "feather-like flakes fell at Ruapekapeka Pa and adjoining high country".
During the same fall there were reports of snow blanketing Auckland and the hills as far north as Leigh. Robin Olsen, in his late 70s and now living near the Hikurangi swamp, was about 6 when he experienced the snow of 1939.
He was living at Tutamoe with his family in Opouteke Rd.
"I can remember looking out the window and the old man saying he'd never seen bloody snow up there," Mr Olsensaid.
Mr Olsen was playing golf with a mate when the next dusting of snow fell across Northland in 1976.
Indeed, another dusting of snow was reported under the headline Snow in Northland on the front page of the Northern Advocate from June 22, 1976.
The story said that for the first time in 37 years snow had fallen in Northland, reaching the ground in traces on the fringe of the Tutamoe plateau, North of Dargaville.
"It was in the early hours of today that light rain turned to sleet and then to snow, fast disappearing as rain resumed this morning," the story said.
"Temperatures are reported as 'icy' and the top of Tutamoe shrouded in mist and cloud over the past few days."
But flicking through the book Maungakaramea Past & Present there is a section documenting the snowfalls around Tangihua which reports a snowfall in 1868.
It was printed in the Auckland Weekly News: "A phenomenon, not I believe hitherto in the memory of 'the oldest inhabitant' was seen here on the morning of 26th July 1868. The Tangihua Ranges were observed by many to be capped by snow."
In 1904 Ruby Child, aged 15, wrote in the family Bible: "Snow on the Mountain Tangihua. August 5th 1904. Very cold wether." Oak Farm Maungakaramea.