The country is experiencing an unseasonably cold start to December.

Temperatures recorded on 1 December in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch were the lowest in almost a decade.

In some instances the temperature was ten degrees colder than is normal for the time of year.

The last time the country recorded such low temperatures was December 2006.

MetService meteorologist John Law said some temperatures for parts of the central South Island were back below freezing on Monday night.

But he said a change in weather patterns is set to see warmer conditions in the coming weeks.