<P> Rainfall is generally plentiful in New Zealand, with most cities receiving between 620 mm or 24 in (as in Christchurch) and 1,317 mm or 51.9 in (Whangarei) of precipitation annually . Rainfall is normally distributed evenly throughout the year in most parts of the country, especially in the South Island . Northern and eastern parts of the country, including Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington see a slight winter maximum consistent with a Mediterranean climate, although the difference between the wettest and driest months is too small to justify the designation . Summer and autumn maxima can be found in places closer to the southwest, such as Invercargill and Milford Sound . </P> <P> How much rain a place receives is highly dependent on topography . The Southern Alps, the North Island Volcanic Plateau and surrounding ranges can produce large variation in rainfalls in places barely tens of kilometres apart . Milford Sound receives over 6,700 mm of the rainfall a year on average while barely 100 km away Alexandra in Central Otago receives only slightly greater than 300 mm annually, giving it a borderline oceanic / semi-arid climate . </P> <P> Snow falls in New Zealand's South Island and at higher altitudes in the North Island . It is extremely rare at sea level in the North Island . It is also extremely rare in Auckland and Wellington with one snowfall each in 2011 after nearly 40 years where none occurred . Snow is more common inland in both main islands, though snow to sea level does occur on average once or twice per year in the central and southern South Island . </P> <P> As with many islands in the world, the influence of the ocean curtails any extremes in coastal temperature . The greater temperature ranges are found in the interior of the Canterbury and Southland regions, and especially Central Otago . Central Otago and inland Canterbury's Mackenzie Basin have the closest New Zealand has to continental climates, being generally drier (due in part to föhn winds) and less directly modified by the ocean . These areas can experience summer temperatures in the low 30s ° C (high 80s / low 90s ° F) and snow and severe frosts in winter, the latter exacerbated by hoar frosts in the river valleys and basins . </P>

Where does it snow in the north island