Should clothing for South Island be largely warm for January? - or a mixture?

Definitely a mixture. It can be quite hot and lovely. But windproof and rainproof are needed with at least one fleece for the odd flash of cold that we have come to expect at any time of year.
Mostly though we hope for hot weather in January/February. When in the mountains though, it is often cold at night and really hot during the day.

Thanks Pam - was trying not to have to send you emails for every question!

haha no worries :-) To give you an idea, I've been snowed on in the South Island in January one day and been in 38degC the next day. It can be crazy!!

The backpacks are more bulging! Thanks again.

Well a good rainskin that is also windproof can be very thin and roll up.
And a cheap fleece can be bought over here, as a layer. And fleece is easy to wash and dry. It's possible they could bring these and not use them. However so often people get caught out. It's a catch22 sorry .

Its fine Pam - I have a lot of gear from when I did a lot of bushwalking - doling it out. I know the importance of being prepared. Told them to take a fleece and rainskin - and Emily just needs to rationalise the rest - and know that glamour cannot happen all the time!

Indeed: never forget a RAIN coat (for the whole of New Zealand)

I know and love green (New Zealand)

Just cross the Tasman Sea

New Zealand may be good training for this Brisbane girl relocating to Melbourne :)

We have 12 deg. today, the weather will improve on Thursday. And by the way, actually the sun is shining on the West Coast :-) Ah, and BTW - it is summer...

We also have 12 deg and btw it is (should be) winter.

NZ just recorded the coldest December since the 1960's!! Hasn't warmed up yet. Milford Track and other alpine areas had snow a couple of days ago.

The Netherlands had the warmest year (2006) since 1700.

Poor old Em - got to Christchurch and rang with the words every mother loves to hear - you were right - I should have brought the thermals! I'm sure she'll allimatise - eventually!!

hahahaa, but she will be able to buy something there. tell he to look for a shop called Kathmandhu. I think they have a 50% sale on.

Better yet Pam - I went to Kathmandu HERE and bought her a new polar fleece - and offered top and bottom thermals - if she didn't want to wear mine. She was SURE she wouldn't need them! Ahhh...the wisdom of the young.

Hahaha, people never believe me when I tell them they have to bring warm clothes for a summer visit to NZ. It's only occasionally that you don't need them. Ok the days can be very very hot, but the nights can be bitterly cold. It's the crazy climate we live in. But I think this year has been colder than normal so far.
Another bit of advice is for them to go to "The Warehouse" which can be found in many towns, for very cheap and average extra clothing. But its the sort of stuff they can ditch if they want before coming back home.

Thanks Pam - she's reasonably well prepared - and will not doubt be fine. I think its the whole idea of why to take all that warm clothing for a summer holiday! Spelling/typo before - she will aclimatise no doubt!! I just love being right with the kids!

:-) I think they work out eventually that us parents have "been there done that". And if it's any consolation, the memory of personal experience seems to have a more lasting effect, than advice from mother. And some would say it's part of the fun of travel, but personally I think had they heeded your advice they'd have saved themselves the discomfort as well as the time wasted looking to buy extra clothes. etc. My friends were snowed on in Fiordland just 3 days ago hahahahaha.

They have managed to hire a car, even though this was not achievable from here. Paying a fair bit for it, but well worth it for the convenience and flexibility for the few days they have it.

Oh good. They'll have a great time.

She has now disclosed that the bf inadvertently left the polar fleece we loaned him in his car! I think I would rather be ignorant at this stage!

Not sure about that yet jen! We gave Emily money, and she has her father's credit card - he deserves to have me tell her to use it lavishly!!! However, I have desisted. No doubt they will sort it out - Kathmandu does have a sale!

Akaroa as of last night. Taking the Tranzalpine in a few days. Not sure in between. However, I am sure there will be further instalments! She'll be opshopping for a fleece today!!

Adjunct to the story - kids are safely thawed and home. Michael DID get scanned as having explosure elements on MY backpack, but at least he had left her father's loaned polar fleece at home.

Sent them looking for NZ opshops - and they had massive success. Em tells this story of being the little opshop rathound (well trained) and finding a couple of good brand polar fleeces on the racks - asks at the counter "is that all?" - is directed to the "ceiling", where she says is a forest of hanging used polar fleeces!! They did good - got a Mountain Design for $20 - and had a wonderful holiday.

Great news, we are at last having quite high temps now. Not before time! Glad the young ones got home safe and sound!!

Thanks Pam - and the mother was lucky enough to get a jade bangle.

Oh good! Make sure you don't drop it or put your arm down quickly on a hard surface ;-)