There's nothing like a snowstorm to make most of us happy - and this one was perfect. It arrived in the middle of the school holidays, so kids could enjoy it.
It arrived when many parents were on leave. It dumped enough snow to build snowmen. It brought snowflakes into towns that rarely see snow - Wellington, Nelson, Greymouth, Palmerston North, Hawera, Stratford, Hokitika, Greytown, Masterton and Taupo.
And, best of all, it was short-lived. Within 36 hours of the storm clearing Canterbury, a warmer nor'wester had already arrived.
Travel problems were significant but also short-lived.
The snow also arrived before lambing season really got under way.