Once could be an aberration... But three years in a row and four of the last five years as New Zealand’s sunniest centre, there’s only one possible conclusion – Whakatāne occupies a unique climatic ‘sweet spot’.

NIWA records confirm that this Bay of Plenty suntrap recorded 2,711 hours of sunshine in 2014, or an average of 7 hours and 25 minutes every day. To put that into perspective, Whakatāne leaves most of the country’s other notable sunny spots trailing an average sunshine month – or more – in its wake. Blenheim and Nelson, for example, are more than 200 hours behind, equivalent to about 30 average sunshine days. North Island centres Gisborne, Tauranga and Napier are between 27 and 50 average sunshine days behind.

“There’s a clear message in that,” says Whakatāne District Mayor Tony Bonne. “People who enjoy an outdoor lifestyle can do more of what they love here than anywhere else in the country. Whether that’s lying in the sun on AA New Zealand’s ‘most loved beach’ at Ōhope, enjoying alfresco dining, golfing, boating, fishing, cycling or tramping – or a host of other activities – you can maximise your lifestyle opportunities right here.

“Our housing is comparatively cheaper too. An average house in Auckland would buy you a fantastic home here and you can guarantee your commute will be stress-free. The welcome mat is definitely out for business and lifestyle migrants, so anyone interested should just Google the sunshine capital, Whakatāne, or Ōhope Beach, and then come and discover one of the country’s best kept secrets,” Mayor Bonne concludes.