A slack pressure gradient brings mainly settled conditions to the North Island on Saturday but there could be a few irregularities, low pressure out west draws in a southerly airflow over the South Island. This low west of the South Island weakens on Sunday as a ridge starts to have more influence over the country extending out from an anticyclone to the south.

A mix of sun and cloud across most of the North Island on Saturday, there could be early mist or fog patches for some inland areas. Showers about East Cape and Northland could become heavy in the afternoon then clearing later in the evening. The odd light morning shower for Wellington then clearing away, an isolated shower or two may make their way into Hawkes Bay and Gisborne from afternoon (mainly about the ranges). Patchy rain or showers for most South Island regions, a mainly dry morning from Banks Peninsula up through to Marlborough. After morning showers Southland becomes dry into the afternoon. Any early heavy rain for the West Coast eases.

Mostly sunny for the upper and western North Island on Sunday, some high cloud from afternoon. Fairly cloudy in the east with a light shower or two. Patchy rain for the South Islands West Coast, mostly cloudy in the east with a light shower or two.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz