Hot Australian weather hits east coast of NZ

Australian-type heat has hit parts of New Zealand.

Weather analyst Richard Green says Napier and Hastings are leading the charge with 35 degrees so far this afternoon.

Gisborne has reached 30, and Tauranga is in the high 20s. Parts of Canterbury are also around 30 degrees.

Very hot northwest winds have pushed up the mercury.

Christchurch reached 30 degrees at midday, ahead of a cooler change now starting to move into South Canterbury.

Adelaide is currently on 30 and Melbourne 24, cooler than recent temperatures in those cities, which have been in the 40s.

- NEWSTALK ZB