KEY POINTS:
The country's most popular wine grape and its flower export industry are feeling the fallout from the cold start to summer.
Records showed temperatures in the main centres were two to three degrees cooler than normal last month, with Auckland recording its coldest December since 1962 and Wellington since 1928. Christchurch and Dunedin had more than twice the normal rainfall.
New Zealand Winegrowers chairman Stuart Smith said the cold conditions cut the expected yield of sauvignon blanc vines - New Zealand's best known grape variety - which flowered during December. The bitter conditions also hit the $50 million flower export industry, limiting supply of temperature sensitive blooms and pushing up prices.
Crops of calla lilies were planted for pre-Christmas export to the United States but were yet to bloom because the weather was too cold.
"It's certainly the strangest [season] that I can remember," said commercial grower Kathy Prowse.
Exporter Louise Sheehan, FlowerZone Japan trading manager, said the cool conditions also slowed the flowering of hydrangeas, a bloom building New Zealand's flower growing reputation internationally.
Cold weather was the bane of many holidaymakers but it brought benefits for others.
South Island hydro lakes Tekapo and Pukaki were more than 80 per cent full and the region's farmers' fears of a drought were soothed by the downpours.
MetService forecaster Allister Gorman said the first days of January were also cooler than normal.
He said warmer weather was expected late this week and it would remain settled for several days.
"Later this week it looks like we will finally have a high over most of the country," said Mr Gorman. "The people who are really hanging out for some sunshine will finally see some on Thursday or Friday."
SOME LIKE IT HOT - SOME LIKE IT COLD
Export flowers
The cold December limited supply for the $50 million flower export industry and pushed up prices.
Winegrowers
New Zealand's best-known grape sauvignon blanc flowers in December and the colder than usual month reduced the expected yield of next year's vintage, which was still expected to be high because of the number of vines planted, NZ Winegrowers chairman Stuart Smith said.
Fishing
Strong wind and cool temperatures are making times tough for recreational boaties.
Pete Lamb, of Wellington charter company and retail store Pete Lamb Fishing, said the snapper and kingfish tended not to bite in the cold but other types of fish were plentiful.
Camping
Temperatures are cold enough to keep holidaymakers out of the water but not to put them off camping. People flocked to camping grounds on the Coromandel Peninsula, said Rebecca O'Brien of the Whitianga Visitor Information Centre.
Farming
A rise in milk production due to the cool and damp conditions has Federated Farmers Waikato president Peter Buckley smiling.
Mr Buckley said the cows enjoyed the cooler weather and the ensuing lower number of flies. "The animals seem a lot happier with this sort of temperature than they do when it gets a bit hotter."
Hydro lakes
The frequent rainfall, on top of snow melt, has helped boost crucial southern hydro lake levels and greatly lessened the chance of electricity shortages this winter.
Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki, which provide much of the country's hydro electric generation, were at the upper end of their expected capacities, at 709.7m and 532m above sea level, or more than 80 per cent full.
Energy consultant John Noble said the rule of thumb was that if the lakes were full in April, the country would get through winter all right.
