Updated 7:30pm Good Friday — Here is the forecast for the long weekend across New Zealand.

Saturday: Dry for the South Island under high pressure and in the North Island a few showers fade out along the Hawkes Bay/Gisborne coastline. In the afternoon an isolated heat shower may pop up through inland parts of the North Island towards Waikato and western BOP, otherwise dry.

By Easter Sunday mostly dry but a few afternoon showers in eastern BOP and East Cape / Gisborne area, also about South Westland, Fiordland, Southland and Otago across the day – may even turn to patchy rain in those South Island regions.

Easter Monday A weak cold front moves up the South Island bringing showers to both western and eastern coastlines. Most of the downpours will be in the west with plenty of dry spells though.  By the end of the day another burst of showers and cooler SW winds moves into Southland and Otago – still plenty of dry spells.  

The North Island has a dry day with late showers from Taranaki to Horowhenua (the SW corner of the North Island) by evening.

– Image / Good Friday’s lunchtime wind and rain map / WEATHERMAP

– WeatherWatch.co.nz