Due to the subtropical climate the weather is extremely changable. Most people carry an umbrella even when it looks like a sunny day because it is common for the weather to switch from sunny to rainy several times in one day or even one hour.

In general the further up north you go the more days of rain you will get per month. Nelson on the northern top of the south island is known to have the least days of rain in New Zealand.

I love rain, so Auckland is a great place to be. If you are keen on a lot of sun you may want to consider Brisbane or Sydney instead. Even during the spring and summer months I spent in NZ there was rain on at least one day out of three. Admittedly this does get annoying when you try to do some sightseeing.

So just be prepared! Bring a umbrella for regular and a rain jacket for windy days.