A cold southwesterly airflow sits over New Zealand on Thursday, which eases over the South Island in the afternoon and over the North Island in the evening.

Shower activity over the South Island clears in the morning – earlier on the West Coast and about Southland and Otago, then by midday about Canterbury and Marlborough – then sunny areas increase.

The North Island sees shower activity for many regions mostly clearing away in the evening, although the odd shower may continue on and off in the west.

– Aaron Wilkinson & Drew Chappell, WeatherWatch.co.nz