May is close to Waitangi's year-round average, with average highs near 12.9°C and lows around 10.9°C (mean 11.9°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 76 mm of rainfall and 83% relative humidity across the period.
May is close to Waitangi's year-round average. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Waitangi was 2023 — when the month averaged 13.9°C — while the coldest was 1992 at 9.4°C. Typical May days reach 12.9°C with nights near 10.9°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
May is about average for rainfall in Waitangi, averaging 76 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 1994 with 132 mm, while the driest was 2020 at 40 mm.
Relative humidity in Waitangi during May averages 83%. The most humid May was 2011 at 87%, and the least humid were 1981 and 1991 at 78%.
May receives about 1.6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Waitangi. The sunniest Mays were 2014 and 2023 at 1.8 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2012 and 2013 at 1.4.
Average wind speed in Waitangi during May is 7.1 m/s. The windiest May was 2002 at 8.5 m/s, while the calmest was 2005 at 5.6 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 11.6°C | 11.4°C | 11.9°C | 12.4°C | 12.5°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg High | 12.6°C | 12.4°C | 12.9°C | 13.4°C | 13.5°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg Low | 10.7°C | 10.3°C | 10.9°C | 11.4°C | 11.6°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg Rain | 76 mm | 83 mm | 85 mm | 74 mm | 54 mm | -22 mm |
May temperatures in Waitangi have risen by about 1°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 6.6°C (1992) to a record high of 17.5°C (2023).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 76 mm, with a wettest year of 132 mm.
A good time to visit Waitangi
May is a good time to visit Waitangi, with days averaging 12.9°C and nights around 10.9°C (mean 11.9°C, close to Waitangi's yearly average) and moderate rainfall. February and January are marginally more temperate, but May still suits most travellers.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14.2°C | 13.1°C | 12.0°C | 16.1°C | 8.8°C | 57 mm | 83% | 7.9 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2024 | 12.3°C | 11.3°C | 10.3°C | 14.7°C | 6.8°C | 46 mm | 82% | 6.9 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2023 🔥 | 14.7°C | 13.9°C | 13.1°C | 17.5°C | 10.5°C | 67 mm | 85% | 7 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2022 | 13.4°C | 12.4°C | 11.4°C | 15.3°C | 8.6°C | 51 mm | 83% | 7.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2021 | 13.4°C | 12.4°C | 11.3°C | 15.9°C | 9.2°C | 62 mm | 84% | 6.9 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2020 | 12.9°C | 12.1°C | 11.3°C | 15.9°C | 9.7°C | 40 mm | 82% | 6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2019 | 14.1°C | 13.0°C | 11.9°C | 16.5°C | 10.1°C | 58 mm | 84% | 7.5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2018 | 13.9°C | 12.8°C | 11.8°C | 15.9°C | 9.3°C | 47 mm | 81% | 7.1 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2017 | 13.1°C | 12.1°C | 11.2°C | 15.4°C | 8.4°C | 100 mm | 83% | 7.1 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2016 | 13.8°C | 12.6°C | 11.5°C | 15.9°C | 9.0°C | 90 mm | 86% | 6.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2015 | 12.6°C | 11.7°C | 10.8°C | 15.8°C | 6.6°C | 74 mm | 83% | 8.1 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2014 | 14.1°C | 12.9°C | 11.7°C | 16.5°C | 7.9°C | 43 mm | 81% | 6.9 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2013 | 13.0°C | 11.9°C | 10.8°C | 16.1°C | 7.3°C | 78 mm | 83% | 7.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2012 | 12.4°C | 11.5°C | 10.6°C | 14.7°C | 8.3°C | 100 mm | 83% | 7.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2011 | 14.1°C | 13.2°C | 12.3°C | 16.5°C | 8.5°C | 93 mm | 87% | 7.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2010 | 12.9°C | 12.1°C | 11.4°C | 14.4°C | 10.1°C | 55 mm | 84% | 5.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2009 | 12.7°C | 11.9°C | 11.1°C | 14.9°C | 7.6°C | 123 mm | 84% | 6.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2008 | 12.1°C | 11.2°C | 10.4°C | 14.5°C | 8.4°C | 50 mm | 83% | 6.4 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2007 | 13.3°C | 12.1°C | 10.9°C | 14.8°C | 7.5°C | 84 mm | 85% | 7.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2006 | 13.4°C | 12.6°C | 11.8°C | 14.8°C | 9.6°C | 104 mm | 85% | 6.3 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2005 | 13.1°C | 12.1°C | 11.1°C | 15.1°C | 7.9°C | 90 mm | 85% | 5.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2004 | 13.1°C | 12.2°C | 11.3°C | 15.9°C | 8.6°C | 100 mm | 85% | 6.4 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2003 | 12.7°C | 11.6°C | 10.5°C | 15.1°C | 8.4°C | 75 mm | 83% | 7.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2002 | 11.9°C | 10.6°C | 9.3°C | 14.5°C | 6.8°C | 78 mm | 80% | 8.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2001 | 13.1°C | 12.0°C | 11.0°C | 15.3°C | 7.7°C | 86 mm | 85% | 6.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2000 | 13.6°C | 12.4°C | 11.2°C | 15.3°C | 9.4°C | 64 mm | 82% | 6.5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1999 | 13.8°C | 12.7°C | 11.6°C | 15.7°C | 9.1°C | 100 mm | 85% | 6.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1998 | 12.5°C | 11.4°C | 10.3°C | 14.2°C | 7.7°C | 72 mm | 81% | 7.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1997 | 12.2°C | 11.2°C | 10.2°C | 13.7°C | 7.2°C | 51 mm | 83% | 5.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1996 | 12.6°C | 11.4°C | 10.2°C | 15.0°C | 7.5°C | 76 mm | 82% | 7.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1995 | 13.1°C | 12.1°C | 11.1°C | 15.7°C | 8.7°C | 80 mm | 81% | 7.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1994 🌧️ | 11.9°C | 10.8°C | 9.8°C | 14.2°C | 7.8°C | 132 mm | 85% | 7.3 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1993 | 12.0°C | 11.0°C | 10.0°C | 14.0°C | 8.0°C | 79 mm | 86% | 6.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1992 ❄️ | 10.5°C | 9.4°C | 8.4°C | 13.4°C | 6.6°C | 68 mm | 80% | 7.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1991 | 12.8°C | 11.8°C | 10.7°C | 14.7°C | 8.4°C | 86 mm | 78% | 8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1990 | 13.0°C | 11.9°C | 10.9°C | 14.8°C | 8.0°C | 87 mm | 82% | 7.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1989 | 12.5°C | 11.7°C | 10.9°C | 14.9°C | 9.4°C | 108 mm | 85% | 6.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1988 | 12.7°C | 11.5°C | 10.3°C | 15.1°C | 7.4°C | 76 mm | 80% | 7.9 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1987 | 12.5°C | 11.7°C | 10.8°C | 14.4°C | 8.9°C | 50 mm | 82% | 7.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1986 | 13.2°C | 12.1°C | 11.0°C | 15.6°C | 8.5°C | 83 mm | 81% | 6.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1985 | 13.3°C | 12.3°C | 11.4°C | 15.3°C | 8.6°C | 116 mm | 81% | 6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1984 | 12.3°C | 11.3°C | 10.2°C | 14.8°C | 7.3°C | 60 mm | 80% | 7.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1983 | 12.2°C | 11.1°C | 10.1°C | 14.7°C | 7.6°C | 96 mm | 83% | 8.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 12.7°C | 11.7°C | 10.7°C | 14.6°C | 7.8°C | 47 mm | 82% | 7.4 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 12.2°C | 11.4°C | 10.5°C | 15.2°C | 8.4°C | 48 mm | 78% | 6.2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 12.9°C with lows near 10.9°C (mean 11.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 76 mm of rainfall in Waitangi, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 132 mm in 1994.
The hottest May reached 17.5°C in 2023. The coldest dipped to 6.6°C in 1992.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 1°C. Daytime highs moved from 12.5°C to 13.6°C and overnight lows from 10.6°C to 11.6°C over the same span.
May is close to Waitangi's year-round average and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 12.9°C daytime highs and 10.9°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 7th coolest month in Waitangi, averaging 11.9°C.
For May in Waitangi, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 12.9°C and lows of 10.9°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 83% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 7.1 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 8.5 m/s (2002).
The wettest May on record was 1994 with 132 mm. On average, May sees 76 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Waitangi behaves each May, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for May specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
