Chopper helicopter

New Zealand growers were hit by frost on Friday night, with temperatures dropping to -4C in what many hope is the last of the season’s cold flashes.

The frost was the product of an unseasonably cold southerly front moving its way up the country, according to Stuff.co.nz. Central Otago and Canterbury were among the worst hit.

Hundreds of helicopters took to the air during the night to control damage by pushing warm air pockets down onto crops.

“There are 670 helicopters in New Zealand and 85-90 per cent of them will be out on a big frost night,” said helicopter company Helipro’s business manager John Read.

“I would not be surprised if there were more than 500 flying tonight, based on the forecasts I have seen,” he predicted on Friday.

Growers across the country are confident their intensive frost-fighting efforts have prevented any significant damage, according to reports, but that won’t be confirmed with any certainty for another few days.

Warmer weather has been forecast for this week.