It's been a slow start for Whakatāne in the 2023 Sunshine Hours Race.
A very wet January in the Eastern Bay has placed Whakatāne in 6th in the 2023 Sunshine Hours Race so far.
Lake Tekapo is currently in the lead, with 2022 winner, New Plymouth trailing closely behind.
Data from NIWA's Climate Database shows, Whakatāne is currently 128 hours away from the top spot.
Whakatāne experienced only 167 hours of sunshine last month, less than half the 343 hours enjoyed in January last year. The previous lowest January hours over the past 17 years, was 216 hours in 2018.