Record low temperatures were observed across parts of the central North Island in the past two days, MetService says.
The forecaster said Taumarunui recorded its coldest temperature on record at -7.2C, while Rotorua set a new all-time low of -5.6C.
Taupō recorded its coldest August temperature on record at -6.6C. Palmerston North also set a new August record low of -3.5C, while Whangārei recorded its coldest August temperature at 0.4C.
It said several other centres came close to breaking records.
Auckland recorded 1.4C, its third-coldest August temperature on record. Hamilton dropped to -4.6C, also its third-coldest August temperature on record.
Napier recorded -3.2C, making it its second-coldest August temperature on record, while Whakatāne's -3.0C equalled its coldest August temperature previously recorded.
Yesterday, Auckland experienced its coldest day in five years - with -2.5C recorded at Whenuapai Airport, while Mount Cook airport recorded a low of -10C on Thursday morning.
Temperatures noticeably plummeted earlier this week and have continued to stay cold across the country.
MetService meteorologist John Law told Breakfast today that it was "an incredibly cold story for many spots, especially across the North Island".
MetService meteorologist John Law said it was "probably the coldest start of the year for the team up in Auckland”, with –2C recorded near Whenuapai. (Source: Breakfast)
"The coldest spot I could see this morning as I came in: the Desert Rd, -10C."
He said Taupō recorded -6C, which was "a record for their August cold temperatures, and even across into places like Napier, -3C or so, the coldest for the year so far".
"Even yourselves up in Auckland, it's a cold start with -2C out toward Whenuapai," he said.
He said it was "probably the coldest start of the year for the team up in Auckland, and even up towards Northland as well".
"Those cold temperatures this morning, good cold frost for many spots, but there's still another hour or so of night-time, so that temperature could still drop away as we head through towards the next next few hours or so. Yeah, real cold, frosty stuff."
He said the "beautiful clear skies" experienced over the North Island were keeping temperatures cold.
Law said soon there would be more northerly winds pushing back across the South Island, which would "start to bring a touch more cloud, a touch more breeze, and those temperatures start to be not quite as cold as it has been".
Earlier this week, New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi urged travellers on the roads to prepare for days of freezing temperatures and ice on the roads.
"Those travelling late at night or early in the mornings are most likely to encounter icy conditions. Motorists are urged to reduce their speeds, increase their following distances and avoid sudden braking or turning movements on icy roads," an NZTA spokesperson said.
Shortly after 6am, MetService meteorologist Matthew Ford told 1News it had been "another night of widespread cold temperatures" and frost for many.
"The kind of whole breadth of the country really. So even all the way from Kaitaia in the north, down to Invercargill."
Ford said temperatures were not as cold in the South Island due to a front approaching from the west, bringing some high cloud.
"That high cloud that came across the South Island overnight has stopped the temperatures being quite as cold as they were the previous night,” he explained.
“But overnight it was the North Island that stayed cloud free which allowed the North Island to be the coldest place overnight."
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