MetService is forecasting a cold but clear Easter weekend for much of New Zealand.

Christchurch woke to its second coldest March temperature on record today at -1C on Friday. Records started in 1954 and the current record is -1.3°C on 18 March 2020.

Blenheim and Wellington also recorded their coldest temperatures of the year at 1C and 7C degrees respectively.

"It has been an unusually cool March," MetService meteorologist Ngaire Wotherspoon said.

"We are looking at further cool temperatures for the rest of Easter.

"We can expect some cold overnight temperatures again, especially for the North Island tonight getting down to 4C and 5C even around Taupō and Whakatāne."

It’s an icy start for southern and central Aotearoa New Zealand. Here are the overnight minimum temps as of 7am Christchurch Airport on Friday.

With the exception of Tai Rāwhiti, most places would begin to see sunny spells from today or tomorrow, Wotherspoon said.

Most of the South Island had single-digit temperatures. The highest temperatures for the morning at 15C were recorded in Auckland and Whangārei.

The first snow of the year had fallen at Otago's Cardrona ski field.

Heater warning

Fire and Emergency is warning people to check their heaters before turning it on as temperatures plummet.

Some Serene Classic bathroom heaters have been recalled by WorkSafe because they have started multiple fires.

The MBIE website says the Serene S2068 heaters manufactured in March 2021 "have a manufacturing defect, there have been several fires and overheating events".

"There is a significant risk of people being seriously harmed and property being damaged by fire if the heaters are turned on."

The prohibited S2068 heaters have a serial number in the following ranges:

VH145173 - VH147003 VK154294 - VK160567 WF167045 - WF168874

Fire and Emergency said anyone with these heaters "need to have it removed" or to contact one of the recall suppliers.