Tasman Weather in May

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Tasman, New Zealand in May.

Are you planning a trip a to Tasman, New Zealand in May and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.

What to Expect in Tasman in May

Tasman, New Zealand is a region in New Zealand. May in Tasman generally has mild temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from high to heavy.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are mild and range from 12°C (54°F) in Murchison to 15°C (59°F) in Collingwood. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 10°C (50°F) in Collingwood and 3°C (37°F) in Murchison.

For a closer look at conditions across Tasman, New Zealand, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From high rainfall in Richmond with an average of 120 mm (4.7 in) to heavy rainfall in Collingwood with 171 mm (6.7 in).

Average sunshine

Most places get a reasonable amount of sunshine. Take Motueka as an example - it receives around 156 hours of sunlight, offering a nice mix of sunny and partly cloudy days. Want to compare this with brighter destinations? Try our weather planner to explore your options.

Explore Tasman by month

Best Places to Visit in Tasman in May

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Tasman.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Tasman

What is the weather like in May for some of the most popular destinations in Tasman, New Zealand?

Temperature range in Tasman (May)

Precipitation variation in Tasman (May)

Motueka

In May Motueka generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 9°C (48°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
15°C (59°F)
13°C (55°F)
Min temperature
11°C (52°F)
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
Monthly sun hours
188 hours
156 hours
150 hours
Monthly rainfall
123 mm (4.8 in)
134 mm (5.3 in)
150 mm (5.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
11 days
11 days
Weather conditions

Mapua

In May Mapua generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
15°C (59°F)
12°C (54°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly sun hours
195 hours
176 hours
144 hours
Monthly rainfall
114 mm (4.5 in)
124 mm (4.9 in)
136 mm (5.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
10 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Richmond

In May Richmond generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 14°C (57°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C (45°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
14°C (57°F)
12°C (54°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
195 hours
176 hours
144 hours
Monthly rainfall
112 mm (4.4 in)
120 mm (4.7 in)
133 mm (5.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
10 days
10 days
Weather conditions

Tasman

In May Tasman generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
15°C (59°F)
12°C (54°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly sun hours
188 hours
156 hours
150 hours
Monthly rainfall
116 mm (4.6 in)
126 mm (5 in)
140 mm (5.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
10 days
10 days
Weather conditions

Takaka

In May Takaka generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
15°C (59°F)
13°C (55°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly sun hours
188 hours
156 hours
150 hours
Monthly rainfall
150 mm (5.9 in)
161 mm (6.3 in)
184 mm (7.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
14 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Tasman, in New Zealand.

In our records: New Zealand May extremes

Notable May records observed across cities in New Zealand in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • In our records, the coldest May daytime high in New Zealand was -6°C (21°F) in Franz Josef on May 28, 2013.

Popular cities in May

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Tasman in May.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Motueka 15°C (59°F) 9°C (48°F) 134 mm (5.3 in)
Mapua 15°C (59°F) 8°C (46°F) 124 mm (4.9 in)
Richmond 14°C (57°F) 7°C (45°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Tasman 15°C (59°F) 8°C (46°F) 126 mm (5 in)
Takaka 15°C (59°F) 8°C (46°F) 161 mm (6.3 in)
Collingwood 15°C (59°F) 10°C (50°F) 171 mm (6.7 in)

Tasman weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Tasman, New Zealand in May?

Tasman, New Zealand typically experiences unpleasant weather in May, part of the season. Daytime highs in Motueka average around 15°C (59°F), and temperatures drop to about 9°C (48°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Tasman, New Zealand in May?

Average temperatures in Tasman, New Zealand during May range from a nighttime low near 9°C (48°F) to a daytime high around 15°C (59°F) in Motueka.

Does Tasman, New Zealand get a lot of rain in May?

Yes, May tends to be a wetter month in Tasman, New Zealand. Average rainfall in Motueka sits around 134 mm (5.3 in).

Is May a Good Time to Visit Tasman, New Zealand?

In our view, May might not be the best time to travel to Tasman, New Zealand with often unpleasant weather in Motueka.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in February offering mostly perfect weather in Motueka. On the other hand, the weather in June, July and August tend to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Tasman.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to New Zealand? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in New Zealand.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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