The sizzling temperatures saw parks and beaches packed as many took advantage of the sunshine and the sea - on what was the last weekend of the holidays for some.
Sunny, warm weather was forecast to continue. But the scorching South Island will get some reprieve. A ridge of high pressure which sat over most of the country on Saturday brought the fine weather, but a front was starting to move into the South Island yesterday bringing showers to Westland.
"It looks like most places in the South Island that are enjoying the warm temperatures might not see as high daily highs over the rest of the week, with the exception of Central Otago," said MetService meteorologist Hannah Moes.
"For example, in Alexandra today the high forecast is 27C, tomorrow 27C, Tuesday 28C.
"But other places, for example Christchurch, today the forecast high is 28C, tomorrow it's only 20C, and Tuesday 22C."
The dry, warm weather looked set to remain for at least a few days, despite a front moving in.
"While it's bringing rain to the West Coast right now, we expect, as it moves over the lower North Island, it will bring only a few showers or patchy drizzle in places."
However, farmers shouldn't expect much rainfall to counter the dry weather that has left many places parched, as it "doesn't look like there will be significant rainfall anywhere in the country" for the first half of the week, except some isolated showers.
Top weekend temperatures
Saturday
Pukaki Aero: 33.4C
Masterton: 30.2C.
Sunday
Blenheim: 30.9C, Gisborne 30.4C.
The outlook
Whangarei
Fine, with morning and evening cloud, light winds and high of 27C. Tomorrow, fine spells with mainly southerly winds and high of 26C.
Auckland
Fine spells, with the chance of a morning shower, southwest breeze and high of 25C. Tomorrow, morning drizzle, followed by fine spells and southwesterlies, and high of 24C.
Tauranga
Fine and warm, light winds and afternoon sea breezes, high of 28C. Tomorrow, long fine spells, sea breezes and high of 27C.
Hamilton
Morning and evening cloud, afternoon fine spells and southwest wind, high of 27C. Tomorrow, early drizzle then fine spells, southwest breeze, and high of 26C.
Wellington
Cloudy with fresh northwesterly in morning, southerly bringing showers in evening, high of 23C. Tomorrow, morning drizzle, then fine with northerly developing, high of 21C.