As one big high departs NZ another one is waiting in the wings over TAS and will bring a fairly settled weekend to the NZ area.

However low pressure in the Coral Sea will drift into the northern Tasman Sea this weekend, bringing rain to the eastern side of Australia (especially coastal QLD).

This rainmaker then moves into northern NZ early next week with possible gales in some exposed areas.

The tropics are fairly quiet with an East to SE airflow dominating and the usual showers here and there.