Climate zones in New Zealand, 1991 to 2020
Share of New Zealand's classified land in each Köppen-Geiger zone in 1991 to 2020. Zones under 0.05% are left out. The 409,376 map cells used cover 98% of the country's outline (about 261,523 km²).
By major group: C (temperate) 89%, E (polar) 8.6%, D (cold (continental)) 2.6%.
Cfb, temperate oceanic, is the main climate of New Zealand, covering 85% of its classified land in 1991 to 2020, with ET (tundra) next at 8.6%. In plain terms, temperate oceanic means mild and damp, with no extremes. Under the middle-of-the-road scenario (SSP2-4.5), 13% of its land is projected to be in a different zone by 2071 to 2099, with the biggest gain going to Cfb (temperate oceanic).
How New Zealand's zones have changed and may change
Each row compares a map with 1991 to 2020. "Share in a different zone" is the share of the country's area whose class is different from 1991 to 2020. Future rows are model projections under an emissions scenario, not forecasts.
| Map | Share in a different zone | Different major group | Biggest gain | Biggest loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 to 1930 (past) | 9.9% | 5.6% | Cfb +5.1 percentage points | ET -3.8 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP1-2.6 (low emissions) | 9.6% | 5.7% | Cfb +3.8 percentage points | ET -4 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP2-4.5 (middle of the road) | 13% | 8.7% | Cfb +7 percentage points | ET -6.2 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP5-8.5 (high emissions) | 25% | 11% | Cfa +10.5 percentage points | ET -7.9 percentage points |
For the past row, the comparison runs the other way: the 1901 to 1930 map against 1991 to 2020.
Zone shares by map
| Zone | 1901 to 1930 | 1991 to 2020 | SSP1-2.6 (2071 to 2099) | SSP2-4.5 (2071 to 2099) | SSP5-8.5 (2071 to 2099) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cfb Temperate oceanic | 80% | 85% | 88% | 92% | 85% |
| ET Tundra | 12% | 8.6% | 4.6% | 2.4% | 0.7% |
| Cfc Subpolar oceanic | 5.6% | 4.2% | 3.6% | 2.6% | 1.4% |
| Dfc Subarctic (boreal) | 2.1% | 2.3% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 2.2% |
| Dfb Warm-summer humid continental | 0.4% | 0.3% | - | - | - |
| Cfa Humid subtropical | - | - | - | 0.1% | 11% |
Percentages are of the country's classified land in each map. A dash means under 0.05%.
Cities in New Zealand and their climate zones
| City | 1991 to 2020 | 2071 to 2099, SSP2-4.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland | Cfb Temperate oceanic | Cfb Temperate oceanic |
Zones found in New Zealand
Data: Beck et al. (2023), CC BY 4.0; country outlines from Natural Earth. In 1901 to 1930 the most common zone was Cfb. See data sources and licences.