Low pressure is about to cross just north of New Zealand bringing in some wind and rain, but thankfully the tracking of this particular system means the bulk of the ‘weather’ will be out at sea.

High pressure around the South Island is growing and will continue to bring mostly settled weather there until Saturday – meanwhile this same high will also extend into the North Island on Friday and the weekend.

However, across the weekend rain returns to the South Island with heavy falls and strong NW winds develop, up to gale in exposed eastern and central areas.

Next week looks dominated by westerly quarter winds.