On Friday we have a high pressure system sitting over much of the South Island while a front slowly moves away from the northeastern tip of NZ (East Cape).

The South Island has morning cloud in the east breaking to sunny areas, with early southerlies quickly tending easterly by midday.
The West Coast has sunny areas and light winds, with perhaps an isolated shower north of about Hokitika from afternoon – then clearing in the evening.

For the North Island it’s cloudy in the east, as early rain eases to showers for most, which continue on and off for the rest of the day.
That front lingers about East Cape so from about Gisborne northwards we are going to see rain, with potentially heavy falls, finally easing in the afternoon.
The west of the North Island for the most part sees morning cloud break to sunny areas, and winds from the southeast.
Isolated showers are possible from mid to late afternoon about the central North Island, Waikato and perhaps western Bay of Plenty.
There’s also the low risk of a thunderstorm late in the afternoon or evening about the Waikato.

Auckland and northland see a mix of sunny areas and some cloud with southwesterly winds, while there’s the chance of a late afternoon isolated shower about southern parts of Auckland, then clearing in the evening.

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