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Winter

Winter is the season for snow, frost, skiing, warm clothes, and Matariki. Discover what causes winter, changes in the landscape, the winter solstice, animal behaviour and how to protect yourself against winter germs and storms. SCIS no. 1827927

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First snow of winter

First snow of winter

The Mount Somers Range seen from by Lake Heron a few days after the first snowfall of winter. Scanned from a 35mm slide. © All Rights Reserved. No usage, including copying or sharing, allowed witho...

The clouds that weren’t

Magellanic clouds or dwarf galaxies are visible from the Southern Hemisphere in winter.

Importance of the flu vaccine.

Winter solstice

Winter solstice

Mild temperatures for winter solstice.

Matariki festival, 2012

Matariki festival, 2012

The final song from the Seven Sisters concert, part of the winter Matariki Festival 2012.

Comfort food in winter

Comfort food in winter

Want to make it through winter without piling on the pounds, but also don't want to go outside and exercise?

Queenstown winter festival

More than 40,000 people are in Queenstown for the start of the new ski season and an annual winter festival.

Olympic bobsleigh event

Olympic bobsleigh event

Alan Henderson and Mark Edmond compete in the two-man bobsleigh event at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. This view from above shows the man sitting at the back of the bobsled bending fo...

Winter Olympics

Winter Olympics

Winter Olympics in Vancouver 2010.

Driving in the snow

OPINION: 4WD enthusiast Mark Wilson explains why people might find themselves stranded in the backcountry, as happened to a group of 38 last weekend.

Fog and frost

Two of Waikato’s climatic features, heavy fog and frost, are seen in this view of Pirongia mountain. Both are common in winter, but some say the fogs are not as bad as they were when they were made...

Smog chokes Arrowtown

Smog chokes Arrowtown

Idyllic Arrowtown is being likened to a mining village from Northern England as thick smog chokes the air.

New Zealand ski areas

New Zealand ski areas

Club and commercial ski areas in New Zealand.

Phenomenon of migration

Seasonal departure of birds explained.

Hibernating tuatara

Captive tuatara are due to be weighed and measured before their winter hibernation. The information is used to ensure they are properly cared for.

Planting for winter

Planting for winter

At this time of the year, in most localities, broad beans and onions, cabbages and winter lettuce varieties should be established. Where the soil is heavy and inclined to be wet during the winter m...

Snow days

When it snows heavily, as it has in Dunedin this week, many people don't make it to work, or are late.

Flooding

Winter in Ophir

Winter in Ophir

Some of New Zealand’s coldest temperatures have been recorded in Ophir in Central Otago. At 3 p.m. on 13 July 2007, it was just 6ºC, and Blacks Hotel was still surrounded by frost.

Matariki waiata

Matariki waiata

Matariki waiata for Māori festival in winter.

Tauranga for winter sunshine

Tauranga for winter sunshine

Poster advertising Tauranga as a winter tourist destination shows a man reaching to help a friend (whose hand is visible at the left) in climbing to a place with a view of the beach at Tauranga an...

Mid-winter Christmas

Mid-winter Christmas

Mid-Winter Christmas Markets held at the Historic Village Tauranga, July 16, 2011 Photographs by Bev Hodges

Frozen lake

Lake Mahinerangi frozen over in 1930.

Snow makers

To ensure there is enough snow in ski areas where weather conditions are unpredictable, some ski operations use snow-making machines, such as these at the Roundhill ski field, South Canterbury. The...

Fruits of winter

Fruits of winter

1200 x 1200; Glazed and moulded earthenware

Gone curling

In winter southern ice men compete for NZ’s oldest sporting trophy.

The winter sports scene

The winter sports scene

Issue No 102 May 3, 1969 - The runners get away. Waimea halfback, R. Henman, who played an excellent game, making a blind side run. Mrs Jeanette Watson, coach of the Rewa junior girls' hockey team,...

Storm at Wellington Heads

Storm at Wellington Heads

A dramatic painting of a storm by Petrus van der Velden.

Turn of the century

Turn of the century

History of skiing and winter sports in New Zealand.

Night sky in winter

Night sky in winter

These views, looking north and south, show the location of the principal stars viewed from New Zealand in June.

Extreme avalanche risk

Extreme avalanche risk

The ski tracks near the warning sign in this cartoon refer to people ignoring advice on entering avalanche prone areas. This resulted in a number of tragic deaths on the slopes of the Southern Alps...

Winter sports

This advertisement for winter sports at Tongariro National Park shows an airborne skier above the ski fields of Ruapehu with Mount Ngauruhoe in the background. It was William Perret Mead and Bernar...

Sheep as warming pans

Sheep as warming pans

This old newspaper article explains the way birds and animals keep warm in winter. Birds usually huddle together in trees or bushes. In Herefordshire, England they were even found to nest in the wo...

The great Swanni migration

The great Swanni migration

The flock of swan-like flying shirts refers to the iconic New Zealand brand Swanndri closing its Timaru mill and moving its manufacturing base to China.

Native American winter myths

Native American legends and traditional stories about winter.

Meteorological and astronomical seasons are marked by specific weather conditions, temperature and the length of the day.

A selection of winter images.

The winter shutdown for wildlife.

Winter classroom ideas

Fun and educational learning activities for teaching.

Animal migrations

Reasons for animal migrations.

Formation or winter storms and blizzards.

Science of snowflakes

How do snowflakes form and why are they six-sided?

Tips on keeping safe while enjoying winter sports.

Keeping healthy this winter

Top tips for keeping healthy in winter.

Winter in New Zealand

Discover activities and destinations to visit in New Zealand during winter.

A winter’s tale

Song by Freddie Mercury on being inspired by Lake Geneva, Switzerland in winter.

Winter solstice celebrations

New and old winter celebrations.

Stay healthy in winter

Seven habits to help stay healthy in winter.

The dangers of winter weather

The impact of winter on the environment and people.

Called midsummer or midwinter, depending on where you are.

Blizzard of Winter Lessons

Cross curricular activities and lesson plans on winter.

King Winter leaves his palace of snow to bring winter to the land.

Winter poems for kids

Poems on the theme of winter.

Persephone and the winter seeds

The reason why Persephone visits Hades’ world every winter.

What it’s really like in Antarctica during winter.

Winter crafts for kids

Simple winter crafts for kids.

How does the common cold work?

The Deep Freeze of 1709

Europe froze and stayed that way for months.

The impact of a nuclear war on Earth.

What causes seasons?

How does the tilt of the Earth’s axis influence the seasons?

Winter solstice

Winter solstice in the southern hemisphere.

How and why animals hibernate in winter.

The worship of heaven

The worship of heaven

According to this article President Yuan Shih Kai issued a decree in 1914 that the winter solstice and the ceremonies associated with it would be celebrated twice a year.

Petone winter carnival

Petone winter carnival

Petone Winter Carnival is Lower Hutt’s biggest winter event. Even wet and cold weather does not stop thousands from attending.

Henry Rudolph Wigley

Henry Rudolph Wigley

Henry Rudolph Wigley was a commercial pilot with Queenstown-Mount Cook Airways Limited. In 1936 he was national downhill ski champion and captain of the New Zealand ski team in 1936-37. As managing...

Winter sports at the Chateau, Tongariro

Winter sports at the Chateau, Tongariro

Poster advertising the Chateau Tongariro and the skiing activity available there shows a stylised illustration of a skier Other Titles - Department Quantity: 1 colour art print(s). Physical Desc...

Winter conditions in Brooklands, 1930s -1940s.

Winter chills

Everyone is familiar with winter colds and flu. According to this article written in 1915, doctors were sure that coughs and colds were spread through contact with infected persons.

To burn or not to burn

Professor Simon Kingham talks about Christchurch’s very high air pollution levels in winter

Fighting infection

Explore resources on immunology – the immune system, what is it and how does it work to fight infection?

Fighting infection

Explore resources on immunology – the immune system, what is it and how does it work to fight infection?

Weather

What determines weather, climate and the seasons? These resources cover the causes for extreme weather and also weather forecasting, weather activities, meteorology and climate change.

Autumn

New Zealand’s autumn months are March, April, and May. This topic covers the season of autumn, its weather, festivals, celebrations, activities, animal behaviour (migration) and changes in the envi...

Spring

September officially marks the beginning of spring in New Zealand. This topic covers the reason for spring, spring animals like lambs, spring flowers, white baiting, festivals and myths including p...

Summer

Summer is about warm weather, outdoors, picnics, surfing, boating and barbecues. It’s also a time to be mindful of sun, water and fire. Explore the Great Kiwi Summer and its associated activities a...