Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
Experts are warning of extreme heat and fire risk as temperatures are forecast to soar across the country on Friday.
The highs could shatter last year's record, which was set just last month.
MetService issued heat alerts for Friday in WhakatΔne, Napier, Hastings, Motueka, Blenheim and KaikΕura, where temperatures in the low to mid thirties were expected.
It said alerts were issued when the forecasted temperature exceeded the normal average for two consecutive days.
They were put out the day before the heat was due to strike - and there would likely be more to follow on Friday and Saturday.
MetService said the heat would really ramp up over the weekend,
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