NIWA has just released its climate summary for winter, which shows rainfall was below normal or well below normal in eastern parts of both islands.
In contrast, rainfall was plentiful for many western areas of New Zealand.
NIWA said winter temperatures were near average across most of the country.
There were pockets of below-average temperatures in western Waikato, Tararua, Wairarapa, mid-Canterbury, Tasman and coastal Otago, while Christchurch, Central Otago and Manawatu experienced above average temperatures.
The nationwide average temperature in winter was just above 8 degrees, but the Mackenzie Country and Central Otago recorded some of the lowest temperatures ever in June.
The lowest was minus 21 degrees at Tara Hills, in Otago on 24 June.