New Zealand weather in May
New Zealand in May averages 12°C (54°F), 98 mm of rain and 4.4 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in New Zealand, May is the fifth coldest, the third wettest and the third dullest.
- Average temp
- 12°C (54°F)
8–16°C · 47–60°F
- Rainfall
- 98 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 4.4 h
hours per day
What is New Zealand like in May?
Daytime
Days are cool.
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 May?
A light rain jacket
About 98 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around 8°C (47°F).
May compared with April and June
May in New Zealand is 1.6°C cooler than April and 16 mm wetter than it, which averages 14°C (56°F).
May in New Zealand is 2°C warmer than June and about as wet as it, which averages 10°C (50°F).
Daylight in New Zealand in May
On 15 May the sun is up for 9 hours 50 minutes in New Zealand, rising about 07:22 and setting about 17:11 local time.
May ends 55 minutes shorter than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 5 hours 18 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 May compares with the rest of the year
May 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 |
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FAQs about New Zealand in May
May climate averages for New Zealand, 1991–2020.
New Zealand averages 12°C (54°F) in May, ranging from about 8°C (47°F) at night to 16°C (60°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 98 mm falls across May, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
Yes. May averages 12°C (54°F) against 10°C (50°F) in June — 2°C warmer.
May is 1.6°C cooler than April, and 16 mm wetter.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is November to April; May sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.
About 4.4 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 May is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 9 hours 50 minutes of daylight in mid-May, against 15 hours 8 minutes in December and 9 hours 12 minutes in June.
On 15 May, sunrise is about 07:22 and sunset about 17:11 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 55 minutes shorter than it starts.
