An anticyclone brings mainly settled conditions to New Zealand on Thursday however unstable conditions develop for some North Island areas in the afternoon.

Sunny spells for the upper North Island, a chance of isolated showers in the afternoon. Showers may be heavy in some areas especially southern parts of Auckland and Waikato where thunderstorms are possible then easing later in the day. Northeasterly winds.

Mostly sunny for the lower western North Island with light winds in the morning then afternoon westerly quarter winds. Isolated showers develop for inland areas in the afternoon, some may become heavy with thunderstorms then clearing later in the day. A mix of sun and cloud along the east coast with east to northeasterly winds. May be an isolated shower late afternoon / evening, mainly about the ranges.

Mostly sunny for Wellington with freshening north to northwesterly winds.

Mostly sunny with northwesterly winds for Marlborough, afternoon northerlies for Nelson. Mostly sunny with afternoon easterlies in Canterbury. Sunny spells along the West Coast with west to southwesterly winds, overnight showers move into Fiordland.

Mostly sunny about Southland and Otago, afternoon easterlies develop for coastal Otago while most other places see westerly quarter winds. Overnight a southwest change brings a few showers to Southland.