Heat alerts have arrived for some northern and eastern parts of the country, with Fire and Emergency warning of an “extreme fire danger” day in Canterbury as the week ends on a scorching note.
“We are expecting an extreme fire danger day on Sunday here in Canterbury. We are getting our ducks in a row for this at the moment,” a Fire and Emergency spokeswoman said.
All fire permits in the Canterbury Fire District were suspended from 11.59pm tomorrow until 8am on Monday, she said.
“No fires are to be lit this weekend. People should check all old burn piles [and] avoid doing any hot/sparks works like mowing lawns until the cooler part of the day, like early morning.
“If you see any smoke or flames, call 111 immediately. We are obviously not the only district to be hit with this heatwave, so [this is] valid for all areas."
The hottest temperatures are expected in Hawke’s Bay on Sunday, with 37C forecast for Hastings, 35C for neighbouring Napier and strong northwesterly winds for both, along with fellow heat-targets Marlborough and Canterbury.
The Sunday scorcher in Hawke’s Bay would follow 30C+ temperatures tomorrow and Saturday for both cities, and on varying days across a swathe of locations from Northland to Canterbury.
Heat alerts, which are based on individual thresholds for each centre, are usually issued the day before, MetService meteorologist Clare O’Connor said this morning.
They were issued just before noon for hot weather expected tomorrow in Whakatāne, Napier, Hastings, Blenheim and Kaikōura.
🌡️ Hot temperatures will be arriving later this week, especially in parts of the North Island.
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) January 7, 2026
⬇️ The images below show where there's a chance for temperatures 30°C or higher.
🥵 Particularly hot temperatures at least in the mid-30s are signalled for Hawke's Bay this weekend. pic.twitter.com/H964kQDqwO
Heat alerts are also likely for Tauranga, Whakatāne, Gisborne, Napier, Hastings and Blenheim on Saturday, with a 31C forecast high in Kerikeri also potentially putting it in the mix, O’Connor said.
“That’s pretty hot for Northland.”
Those at risk of heat alerts on Sunday – expected to be the hottest day for most across the country – were Napier, Hastings, Gisborne, Whangārei, Kerikeri and possibly Tauranga, she said.
“Sunday’s when the majority of the hot air arrives and makes it up north.”
Other areas, including Auckland, Waikato, Rotorua/Taupō, Wairarapa, Nelson and South Canterbury, aren’t tipped to reach 30C during the hot spell, but it’ll still be a warm day with highs in the mid-to-late 20s this weekend.
“[It will be] 28C, 29C”, MetService forecaster Braydon White said of Auckland’s expected high on Sunday.
“Getting near 30C is pretty impressive for Auckland.”
However, several spots would breeze past that number, with MetService heat alerts expected to be issued.
Those forecast to join the 30C or more club at some point over the next three days include Whangārei (31C on Sunday), Tauranga (30C on Saturday and Sunday), Whakatāne (30C tomorrow and Saturday), Kaikōura (30C on Sunday), Christchurch (31C Friday and Sunday).
But it’s the east that will experience the most sustained heat – and threatening winds.
Gisborne is forecast to reach 30C tomorrow and 32C on Saturday and Sunday, and Blenheim 33C, 31C and 30C over the next three days – with northwesterly gales of more than 100km/h expected in Marlborough and Canterbury on Sunday, O’Connor said.
Severe gales were also expected in inland Canterbury, Otago, Southland, Wellington and Wairarapa on Saturday.
Hawke’s Bay – where the hottest temperatures are forecast – was likely to be spared the worst of the winds on Friday and Saturday, but could have winds of 40km/h to 50km/h, with stronger gusts, the meteorologist said.
“That wouldn’t meet watch or warning thresholds ... [but] the fire risk is definitely something to watch out for.”
Twin highs of 33C are forecast in Napier tomorrow and Saturday before a scorching 35C on Sunday.
It’ll be even hotter in neighbouring Hastings, among some locations where forecast highs have nudged a degree higher in the past 24 hours.
A high of 34C was now expected tomorrow – up from the earlier forecast of 33C – along with 35C on Saturday and a blistering 37C on Sunday, almost 12C above the city’s January average.
Health NZ posted a warning for residents on its Hawke’s Bay Facebook page.
“With temperatures forecast to reach between 34–37C from tomorrow through to Sunday, and warm evenings offering little relief, it’s important to stay cool, hydrated and check in on one another.”
They reminded people to “drink water often, even if you don’t feel thirsty”, wear light clothing, close curtains to keep indoor spaces cool during the day, remember sun protection if outdoors, and look out for family, friends and neighbours, especially the elderly and young children.
The hot weather wouldn’t ease till Monday, meteorologist O’Connor said.
“For Napier/Hastings it may still be like 29C, but everywhere else in the [upper] North Island will be mid-20s, and from Palmerston North and the South Island, low 20s.”
The forecast sizzling temperatures, wind and deceptively dry vegetation had already led to preparations for potential “spike” fire-risk days this weekend, Fire and Emergency Hawke’s Bay assistant fire commander Jason Hill said.
“We’re really concerned about the Napier-Heretaunga [Hastings] area and going right through to Central Hawke’s Bay and northern Te Rerenga areas … there’s an extremely high potential that if any fire breaks out it could be quite serious and extremely fast-moving and fast-spreading … [and] extremely difficult to control.”
The public could help by calling 111 if they saw smoke, keeping driveways and accessways clear for emergency vehicles and minimising the use of “anything that could create a spark”, such as welders, grinders or lawnmowers, he said.
Fireworks were banned in part of the region, and in other regions, and Hill encouraged all Kiwis to use the nationwide www.checkitsalright.nz website to see what fire-related activities – if any – were allowed in their areas.
The hot weather sweeping across the Tasman from heatwave-stricken Australia prompted MetService to remind people in the hottest spots to stay out of the sun unless they had plenty of water and sun protection.
“And make sure pets also have plenty of water and shade, and if you’re taking them out on a walk, check out how hot the concrete is – because if you can’t touch it comfortably, then pets also can’t walk on it comfortably," MetService meteorologist Ngaire Wotherspoon said.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLNZ) was also reminding beach-goers to stick to patrolled beaches and swim between the flags, especially on Auckland’s West Coast beaches, where the more dangerous low tide would coincide with the afternoon heat-peak this weekend.
Anyone swimming outside patrol hours or at unpatrolled beaches must know their limits and understand the conditions, SLNZ general manager Chris Emmett said.
“Know how to float, find the safest place to swim – and if in doubt, stay out – take care of yourself and others, and know how to get help.”
If caught in a rip, relax, float and conserve energy, raise your hand and signal for help, and then ride the rip until it stops, or you can swim parallel to the shore to escape, Emmett said.
“Never try and swim directly against the rip … it’s faster than a normal person can swim against it."