Hawke's Bay top spot for sunshine

Sun-lovers should head to Hawke's Bay or Bay of Plenty for the best weather this summer and most of the rest of the country can also expect warmer, drier weather.

If you're looking for settled, hot weather, places like the two Bays, Coromandel and Gisborne where the weather is traditionally good over summer are safe bets, said Niwa climate scientist Georgina Griffiths.

And there is mostly good news for the rest of the country.

Unlike the cold, rainy conditions experienced by much of New Zealand last summer, this year will be "completely different", she said.

Niwa has released its seasonal outlook for the next three months and on the whole it is better than last year - for holidaymakers at least.

Normal to dry conditions are likely for the North Island and Nelson-Marlborough, where it will be a dry start to the summer with rainfall expected to be lower than usual.

A combination of La Nina and predominantly easterly winds last year resulted in a very cloudy, wet summer for the North Island and Nelson-Marlborough, Mrs Griffiths said.

"This year we're forecasting more southwesterlies, so that's the reverse of last year."