A large anticyclone to the east directs a light easterly quarter airflow over New Zealand on Thursday.

A shower or two brushes eastern and northeastern coastal parts of the North Island on Thursday, a mix of sun and cloud elsewhere.

Morning cloud then sunny areas for most of the South Island, chance of an isolated shower in the afternoon about inland Canterbury and Buller then clearing in the evening.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz