No real surprises, but here's a few interesting highlights ...
Although Auckland had 21 'wet-days' and 144% of normal rainfall, sunshine still ended up about normal (averaging 4.7 hrs per day).
Of the five main centres, Auckland was the warmest, Wellington was the wettest and sunniest (an interesting combination), Christchurch the coldest, and Dunedin the driest.
The highest temperature during August 2008 was 19.9°C recorded at Haast on the 26th during a strong easterly air flow. The minimum temperature of 12.9°C at Haast on the 25th was also the highest for the country for August. Both of these temperatures were the highest August temperatures (maximum and minimum) at this location since records began in 1949.
Kaitaia Observatory also recorded its lowest August temp of 1.5°C on the 10th since records began in 1985. And New Plymouth recorded its highest August rainfall of 277mm since records began in 1944.