New Zealand weather in March
New Zealand in March averages 16°C (60°F), 77 mm of rain and 6.6 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in New Zealand, March is the fourth warmest and the fifth driest.
- Average temp
- 16°C (60°F)
11–20°C · 53–69°F
- Rainfall
- 77 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 6.6 h
hours per day
What is New Zealand like in March?
Daytime
Days are mild.
Rain
Some rain is likely; pack for showers.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for New Zealand in March?
A light rain jacket
About 77 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around 11°C (53°F).
March compared with February and April
March in New Zealand is 1.6°C cooler than February and 22 mm wetter than it, which averages 17°C (63°F).
March in New Zealand is 2.2°C warmer than April and about as wet as it, which averages 14°C (56°F).
Daylight in New Zealand in March
On 15 March the sun is up for 12 hours 23 minutes in New Zealand, rising about 07:17 and setting about 19:40 local time.
March ends 1 hour 23 minutes shorter than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 2 hours 45 minutes short of December, the longest-lit month here.
Travel guides for New Zealand
What to read before you book.
New Zealand weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How March compares with the rest of the year
March is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 17°C / 63°F | 57 mm |
| February | 17°C / 63°F | 55 mm |
| March | 16°C / 60°F | 77 mm |
| April | 14°C / 56°F | 83 mm |
| May | 12°C / 54°F | 98 mm |
| June | 10°C / 50°F | 105 mm |
| July | 9°C / 48°F | 116 mm |
| August | 10°C / 49°F | 87 mm |
| September | 11°C / 52°F | 80 mm |
| October | 13°C / 55°F | 86 mm |
| November | 14°C / 57°F | 73 mm |
| December | 16°C / 61°F | 71 mm |
Check another month
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FAQs about New Zealand in March
March climate averages for New Zealand, 1991–2020.
New Zealand averages 16°C (60°F) in March, ranging from about 11°C (53°F) at night to 20°C (69°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 77 mm falls across March, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
Yes. March averages 16°C (60°F) against 14°C (56°F) in April — 2.2°C warmer.
March is 1.6°C cooler than February, and 22 mm wetter.
Yes. March falls inside the most comfortable stretch of the year here, November to April, on temperature and rainfall together.
About 6.6 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what March is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 12 hours 23 minutes of daylight in mid-March, against 15 hours 8 minutes in December and 9 hours 12 minutes in June.
On 15 March, sunrise is about 07:17 and sunset about 19:40 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 1 hour 23 minutes shorter than it starts.
