Kawerau is the heart of the Bay of Plenty, is central to everything and nestles within the Tarawera valley at the foot of the dramatic Putauaki (Mt Edgecumbe), a volcano that became dormant about 1000 years ago.
Less than an hour east of Rotorua and 30 minutes south-west of Whakatāne, Kawerau is within easy reach of lakes, beaches, forests, major cities and thermal areas. With the Tarawera River right on its doorstep, Kawerau is also a popular outdoor and adventure playground.
Founded in 1953, Kawerau is one of the youngest towns in New Zealand. It has been well planned with a shopping centre, plenty of parks and reserves and wide tree-lined streets. it offers a leisurely pace of life.
Kawerau is known for its friendly people and strong community spirit. The strength of its multicultural background is a proud characteristic of the town, as is the richness of its Māori heritage.
The area's wonderful climate and varied scenic beauty make it a great affordable lifestyle option.
Climate
Kawerau enjoys hot summers and mild winters. During summer (December to February) the average daily maximum temperature is a pleasant 23.7 degrees Celsius, and temperatures commonly reach more than 30 degrees Celsius. On some days Kawerau is the hottest place in New Zealand.
Rainfall is spread fairly evenly through the year.
Weather Station Recordings
There is a weather station provided by the MetService and located at Kawerau's Swimming Pool, which monitors and records daily maximum temperatures, and sunshine hours. MetService sends the maximum temperature figure daily to TV1 and TV3.
Kawerau Rainfall as measured at Plunket Street
All Rainfall measurements in the Bay of Plenty
2021
2020
In winter (July to August), the average daily maximum temperature is around 15.6 degrees Celsius. Crisp, early morning frosts are usually followed by clear, sunny days.
This climate information has been provided by MetService and NIWA. For up-to-the-minute weather forecasts, go to the MetService website.
Rainfall
Kawerau now has a Rainfall Station also located at the Kawerau Swimming Pool. This is a joint initiative with BOPRC Environmental Data Services and Kawerau District Council. The BOP Regional Council operates a number of rainfall-monitoring stations throughout the region. Use this link to open the BOP Regional Council Rainfall web-page. The Summary Report link on that page includes a row of figures from the weather station at the Kawerau Town Pool in Plunket St, and the Station Detail link takes you to an overview of all the Regional Council's rainfall monitoring stations.
Alternatively, you can click on the link in the External Websites panel of this page to open the Environmental Data Portal provided by the Regional Council.
