A cold front over the country has brought a return to wet weather especially in northern areas of both islands.  Ther heaviest showers are focused around northern New Zealand mainly from Waikato northwards. 

Heavy showers are expected off and on for much of today north of Taranaki.

Rain or showers due to a stationary front will fall across central New Zealand including Wellington.

Conditions should ease later today and during Friday high pressure should move in from the Tasman with just a few showers remaining over the North Island – but they’ll clear later in the day, meaning a pleasant Friday evening for many.

Saturday is looking dry and quite sunny around New Zealand with a return to north westerlies over the South Island – again spelling temperatures in the late teens and possibly early to mid 20s.

Wellington, Wairarapa and Marlborough may also be in the firing line for some strong winds – state owned forecaster MetService has issued a Severe Weather Watch for Sunday and Monday predicting severe gales are a possibility, however confidence remains low at this stage – meaning there’s a 1 in 5 chance of this event happening.

The weekend looks set to be a warm one for most places as those northerlies or nor’westerlies kick in.  Northern New Zealand should be mostly settled under the high pressure.