Auckland hits the negatives as freezing temperatures continue

Freezing temperatures are persisting around the country but have warmed up from the beginning of the week.

It was a frosty start to the week with temperatures plummeting below -7C in some places in both the north and south islands.

MetService meteorologist Alwyn Bakker said of the main centres at 5am Wednesday morning, Taupō was the main standout at -4.1C, up from -5.6C at the same time Tuesday.

He said at 8am, Dunedin was -2.1C, as was Hamilton at 6am this morning.

Christchurch, he said, dipped below freezing to -0.1C at the airport.

Wellington and Auckland were "a little bit balmier", Bakker said.

At 5am, Auckland was -1.9C, which he said was "pretty cold for Auckland".

Wellington, he said, was at a "comparably tropical" 4.1C at 2am this morning.

Bakker said a ridge of high pressure had gradually started to drift off to the east giving a bit of a lift in temperatures.

"Thursday is going to be a little bit warmer for most people, but then as we get into the weekend, it's going to start dipping down into those cooler temperatures again."