A south to south west surge of wind over Sunday and Monday will bring in a burst of bigger waves across the NZ area.

It builds over the next 24 hours in western areas, then shifts to more eastern areas later on Monday and Tuesday as the southerly surge of weather switches from western to eastern focused.

Waves of 4 to 6 metres will spread around the South Island then and the western North Island, before shifting to the southern entrance to Cook Strait and the eastern North Island over Tuesday. Ferry crossings may have some delays but nothing too serious looks to be going though the Cook Strait area itself with the South Island protecting that route for the most part.

Conditions ease by Wednesday as a large high rolls in.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz