Winter in New Zealand

While a New Zealand winter would be laughable in the Midwest, Jim and I, as 25 year-Texans, find it challenging. Winter is officially June, July and August, and, in fact, none of the seasons are based on the solstice. We are almost through with winter, although not using the solstice messes with my senses, as do so many things in the Southern Hemisphere. So far the coldest morning was -3.9C (25F) on June 17, and that is about as cold as it gets. We had our lowest high of 8.9C (48F) and our highest high of 16.9C (62F). So, no, winter is not too bad. 

But then there is the inside. Most homes are not insulated and have single glazed windows, and, of course, storm windows are an unknown concept. Houses built after 1978 were required to be fully insulated, but that leaves a lot of buildings uninsulated, with single glazed windows and cold. Very few homes have central heat, and many (40% in Palmerston North) heat with wood. People tend to heat the “living areas” and the rest of the house is cold. Most people do not have clothes dryers, and in winter use indoor drying racks adding more dampness to the already damp houses. Gas and electricity are expensive, so people and houses are cold. 

Our 1930 house is uninsulated, has single glazed windows, and is leaky and cold. We have central heating, so it is easier for us to keep the house somewhat uniformly heated, and we supplement with space heaters. Because central heating is so rare, there are no duct cleaning services or filters for sale. Dirty, dusty air and allergies are the result. Jim ordered some filter material and made a filter for the cold air return and the heating vent in our bedroom. With the modifications and an increase in allergy medicine, we manage. I also wear several layers of soft, warm merino wool, from my neck to my toes. 

Another outside winter issue is the smoke in the air from the all the wood burning heaters and fireplaces. New Zealand has a very high rate of asthma-I have read 20% to 25% of children, and the cold, damp houses and breathing smoke from the fires doesn’t help. I don’t have asthma, but my throat, eyes and nose are often bothered by the smoke. With our leaky kitchen, we frequently smell the smoke in our house, and don’t like to go out for walks at night with all the smoke in the air. 

But the flowers never stop blooming! Camellias have been blooming all winter. The calla lilies and forget-me-nots in our yard started to bloom by July 1st, and the lilac bush on our block has been budding for a couple of months, but seems to be slow to bloom. And now the magnolias and rhododendrons! Of course, we couldn’t have all these beautiful flowers and gardens without a lot of rain! 

 

 

A portable ice rink was is "The Square" for a month, drawing a big crowd of skaters everyday.