Countdown to summer starts

Today marks the winter solstice, and means we have only 162 days to go until summer. Photo / Natalie Slade

Today is the shortest day and the longest night of the year, and brings the winter solstice.

It is also widely known as Midwinter's Day, and from today, the days will begin to get longer and the nights shorter as summer draws closer.

There are 162 days until the first day of summer, on December 1.

Today, the sun will rise at 7.30am and set at 5.11pm - giving nine hours and 41 minutes of daylight.

The solstice also coincides with Matariki, the Maori New Year, which is being celebrated throughout the month around the country.

The appearance of the Pleiades star cluster heralds a new beginning and celebrates new life.

The shortest day of the year also brings a turn to the season, and the coldest temperatures of the year can now be expected.

Weather forecasters expect a gloomy day for most people today.

Aucklanders are in for a slightly showery and cold day, with strong winds and a high of about 16C.

A low of 11C was forecast last night and expected to carry through into this morning. Tonight is forecast to be even colder, MetService weather forecaster Mark Pascoe said.

"The first half of the week will be okay - a few showers and a little cold," he said.

"But it starts to go downhill in and around the middle of the week."

Weather in and around Auckland City from Wednesday is expected to be cloudy with heavier showers.

Areas on the west of the North Island, including New Plymouth and in the south of the South Island, such as Invercargill, will get showers throughout the day.

Those in Gisborne, Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa will be luckier, with sunny weather and temperatures of 17C to 18C forecast today.

Mr Pascoe said the weekend was also expected to bring unsettled weather to most parts of the country.

GOOD DAY SUNSHINE

7.30am - Sun rises today
5.11pm - Sun sets this evening
9 hrs 41min - total of daylight
162 days - left to summer