Your June 2024 Newsletter

June 2024

Kia Ora everyone

Well the temperatures have definitely dropped with winter on its way!
The good news is that the shortest day of the year is fast approaching (21 June) then it's full steam ahead and we’re off - racing towards spring. This means the darker days are nearly behind us and we can look forward to the prospect of it being lighter when we wake up.

Earlier this month (Monday 3rd) our country celebrated King's Birthday weekend with a public holiday. King Charles III's birthday is actually 14 November (1948) but New Zealand, like many other Commonwealth nations, celebrates his birthday on the first Monday of June. The official date was set in June to ensure better weather for summer celebrations in the UK - though it doesn't guarantee good weather for us Kiwis!

Another public holiday this month is Matariki on Friday 28 June. This is a reasonably new national holiday as we have only been celebrating since 2022, but it is a very significant one for our country. Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades. It rises in midwinter and for many Māori, it heralds the start of a new year heralding a time of remembrance, joy and peace. Communities all around the country come together and celebrate, with many gatherings beginning at dawn - he best time to view the Matariki cluster.

For keen star gazers, June in New Zealand is one of the best months to enjoy the Milky Way. This band of light that stretches across the sky is our own disc-shaped galaxy, seen edge-on from the Southern Hemisphere. On a clear night it is simply stunning, and if you are a keen photographer this is the best time of year to try and capture it.

Learn more about star gazing in New Zealand here and find tips for how to photograph the Milky Way here.

One of the best locations for photos is also one of my favourite - Tekapo in Central Otago.

The weather in June

'Four seasons in one day' is a well known saying to explain the weather that can be experienced in New Zealand - in fact it is also a famous song!
Although June marks the beginning of the winter season, you may still experience a range of conditions on any given day so it is worthwhile having both your sunglasses and your umbrella handy - and be prepared to carry a waterproof coat with you.

For your information:
- During winter the North Island generally experiences much wetter weather than the South Island
- Polar blasts (strong gusts of cold wind coming from the South Pole) can throw the whole country into the throes of a wintry chill!
- The further south you head in New Zealand, the colder it becomes, especially during the nighttime while daytime temperatures might remain constant.
- The South Island will experience the first snow falls this month ready for the ski season.

Arriving in New Zealand in June? You may find this helpful.

Tipping in New Zealand

We often get asked by our clients about tipping protocols in New Zealand - a great question!

It is not customary or expected to tip in New Zealand. Service workers in NZ generally earn a higher wage than in most other countries and are not reliant on tips - Kiwis will very rarely offer a tip because of this.

Not tipping won’t affect the level of service you receive nor will it impact the livelihood of the service workers looking after you. That being said if the service you have received was exceptional and you wish to acknowledge that, you are welcome to offer a small gratuity.

It is worth being aware that you may be asked for a 'koha' from time to time in New Zealand. A ‘koha’ is a donation, contribution or gift, usually asked for community events as a sign of your appreciation, and offered in the form of money. For example, if you attend a free community event or eat somewhere for free, a koha of a couple of dollars is a nice way to show your appreciation. Koha is different from a tip as it’s not asked for in exchange for a service you are paying for.