Brazilians wax lyrical about NZ summer

Irene Santini and Tatiane Tedesco enjoy Mission Bay. Photo / Doug Sherring

Who needs Copacabana Beach when you've got Mission Bay? Brazilian beauties Irene Santini and Tatiane Tedesco took time out from their New Zealand travels to cool off in the Waitemata as Auckland temperatures topped 26C yesterday.

And they weren't the only visitors basking in our finest summer for 10 years.

At Orewa, north of Auckland, Dutch tourists Martijn van der Vries, 29, and Marisa Kok, 27, said the long hot summer had persuaded them to extend their stay.

"We thought it might be like England, where the summer is never as good as you think, but so far we are very impressed," van der Vries said.

Further along Orewa beach, Marcus Holland, 33, was spending the day with his wife and kids.

The marketing executive said his Mondayitis had worsened since summer arrived with a vengeance earlier this month.

"We spent the holiday period at our bach in Waihi and it was phenomenal.

"The kids always have so much fun in this weather and it's really nice to see them enjoying a good old-fashioned Kiwi summer - helping mum and dad with the barbecues and eating ice creams on the deck."

Unfortunately, not everyone is enjoying the long, hot days.

Niwa principal scientist Jim Salinger said Waikato farmers were struggling to cope with unusually low rainfall.

Just 5mm has fallen this month in Hamilton, which recorded New Zealand's top temperature yesterday, a sweltering 27C.

The final full week of the school holidays is set to be a scorcher, with fine weather forecast around the North Island over the next seven days.

MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt predicted dry weather and high temperatures at seven top beaches selected by the Herald on Sunday.

* Mt Maunganui: Sunny all week with offshore winds today, tomorrow and Tuesday, then light winds and afternoon sea breezes. High of 27 on Tuesday.

* Whangamata: Today and tomorrow, fine with sea breezes. Tuesday and Wednesday, cloudy periods and light winds. High of 26 on Thursday.

* Takapuna: Today and tomorrow, fine with sea breezes. Tuesday, cloudy with southwest winds. High of 26 on Thursday.

* Omaha: Today and tomorrow, fine with offshore winds. Tuesday and Wednesday, cloudy periods with southerly winds. High of 26.

* Taupo Bay: Today and tomorrow, fine with offshore winds. Tuesday and Wednesday, cloudy periods with southerly winds. High of 26.

* Piha: Cloudy periods especially today and Wednesday. Onshore breezes, high of 26.

* Raglan: Cloudy periods especially today and Wednesday. Onshore breezes, high of 25.