The pohutukawa is known as the "New Zealand Christmas Tree" because of its profusion of red and crimson flowers which appear around Christmas time. It is one of the most beautiful features of coastal regions of the North Island during December. Because New Zealand lies in the Southern Hemisphere, the average temperature decreases as you travel south. More recently, Timaru reached 41.3 °C on Waitangi Day in 2011. Due to these winds, the cooler southern cities of Dunedin and Invercar...Read Full Post »