Auckland warmest city in New Zealand

Say what you like about our nation's largest city - Auckland is officially the warmest area of New Zealand.

It reclaimed the title in the latest climate summary for last year released by Niwa this week.

Of the six main centres, Auckland was the warmest, Hamilton was the wettest, Christchurch the driest, Tauranga the sunniest, and Dunedin the coolest and cloudiest.

The warmest area crown has changed hands over past years between Auckland and Tauranga, which took the title in 2011 and 2009.

Tauranga MP Simon Bridges - and associate climate change minister - said he had no doubt his area would reclaim the title this year.

"We will be the warmest, sunniest and hottest - in every sense of the word - place to be," he said.

"I like Auckland but there's no doubt Tauranga has it all over the City of Sails when it comes to beach, brawn and babes. On the many times when I go from Auckland to Tauranga on the same day it is sunshine here and humid and overcast there."