City of Gales rugs up

Aucklanders Alyce Hogan (left) and Jasmin Lorimer braved the cold snap yesterday. Picture / Greg Bowker

It was never meant to be like this. Auckland was built for sunny days. All that reflective glass has its uses.

But when it is spitting and hailing the city is just one big dreary reflection of concrete grey from above as well as below.

Admittedly Aucklanders are a bit wimpy about the weather.

The minimum temperature in the city yesterday was 8C. In Canterbury it was heading for minus 3C and snowing.

But down at the wind tunnel where Queen and Customs Sts meet, there was no escaping the vicious southerly.

John and Rosemary Waller were well rugged up but it had not escaped Mrs Waller's attention that some had not followed suit.

"I wish a lot more youngsters would wear coats.

"You can get a chill in your kidneys, you know."

Mr Waller told of a girl he saw on the bus with just a jumper on.

"Young ones tend to be more resilient. But when you're older you have to be more careful. I've just been ill, so extra precautions are needed."

Alyce Hogan, crossing the road with friend Jasmin Lorimer, proved their point. She was clad in a light jersey, trousers that didn't quite make it to her ankles, and light slippers. Her teeth were chattering and her feet had gone an attractive sky-blue colour.

"It's depressing. I put my warm clothes away. I thought it was spring," Ms Hogan said.

Glyn Ussher had a wardrobe for all seasons - kilt over bare legs, layers of jerseys, hood and woolly hat, complete with holes for his two tufts of hair to poke through.

"You've got to warm up your boiler room," he advised, "and then your arms and legs will look after themselves."