New Zealand capital delights in rare snowfall as southern city residents ski down world’s steepest street

The Guardian World Wednesday 05 August 2026, 03:27 UTC By Eva Corlett in Wellington 1 min read

Key Points

Snow falls in Wellington for the first time in 15 years while snow blanketed Dunedin and Christchurch on the country’s south islandTemperatures have plummeted across New Zealand as an Antarctic cold snap hovers over the country, delighting the capital, Wellington, which experienced snow for the first time in 15 years, while giving a southern city’s residents a chance to ski through the streets. The front moved in on Tuesday, with much of the country waking to freezing conditions, frosts,...

Snow falls in Wellington for the first time in 15 years while snow blanketed Dunedin and Christchurch on the country’s south island

Temperatures have plummeted across New Zealand as an Antarctic cold snap hovers over the country, delighting the capital, Wellington, which experienced snow for the first time in 15 years, while giving a southern city’s residents a chance to ski through the streets.

The front moved in on Tuesday, with much of the country waking to freezing conditions, frosts, snowfall, hail and bitingly cold wind.

New Zealand (LOCATION) Snow (PERSON) Wellington (LOCATION) Dunedin (LOCATION) Christchurch (LOCATION) Antarctic (ORG)

Originally published by The Guardian World Read original →

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New Zealand capital delights in rare snowfall as southern city residents ski down world’s steepest street

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