In the South Island people are enjoying - in the safety of their bubble - an early arrival of spring.
Listen
Lots of people have been out on their state-mandated exercise lapping up some much-needed vitamin D.
There's no Covid-19 there, but spring seems to have arrived.
Spring does not technically begin for another week, but the mercury hit 20 degrees in Christchurch and Dunedin today.
Nelsonians enjoying the sun around Rocks Road. Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee
MetService meteorologist Dan Corrigan said that was much warmer than usual.
"Twenty degrees in Christchurch, for example, is seven degrees above the August average maximum temperature during the day," he said.
It is thanks to what is called a Foehn wind coming off the Southern Alps.
That is responsible for the heavy rain watch over the West Coast - but also the burst of sunshine on the east.
A family enjoying the low tide on Rocks Road in Nelson near Fifeshire Rock. Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee
"It's really the places that are east of the main divide of the Southern Alps," Corrigan said.
"So, you're looking from Kaikōura, right down to Otago and Southland.
"Even places like Gore and Invercargill were going for 19 degrees today."
Dunedin resident Daniel Codling and his son Taelyn caught some rays at St Clair Beach.
"We just thought, 'What beautiful weather, why not stretch our legs and get out on the skaters at the beautiful St Clair'."
Daniel Codling and his son Taelyn enjoying the weather at St Clair beach. Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown
"Sunshine is always good for us," Codling said.
Retirees Gavin and Janet MacArthur were enjoying spending more time in their garden.
"It's fantastic, I was painting the house this morning," Gavin said.
"It's just so much easier, life, in general, is easier when the weather's nice."
The good weather meant Gavin and Janet MacArthur were able to garden and paint the house. Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown
Anna Chilton and her daughter Billie were having some fun in the sun - Anna said it was a great chance for Billie to run around.
"I've been through quite a lot of lockdowns, and the last one was in London in the winter," Anna said.
"That was really tough. So yeah, the sunshine does make a big difference to your frame of mind and how you feel you can cope with what's going on."
Anna Chilton and her daughter Billie were having some fun in the sun. Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown
In Nelson, Lynette was enjoyed a picnic lunch near Port Nelson.
"It's lovely to be able to get out like this, I wouldn't like to be stuck inside with bad weather," she said.
Lynette was enjoying a picnic lunch near Port Nelson. Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee
In the Garden City, daffodils and blooms were beginning to bloom.
Corrigan said the warm weather would linger tomorrow before dipping from Thursday.
And that's long enough for a few sun-seekers to enjoy another stroll outside.