Our last nationwide holiday in almost half a year is upon us and the forecast is, sadly for many, going downhill a bit – but don’t worry, it’s not all doom and gloom.

Despite a deepening large low moving into the North Island and the Upper South Island with wind, cloud and rain there will still be dry spells and some sunny spells – and the winds will be mild from the sub-tropics for many (although some may have the colder easterly version).

Next week the low clears NZ but behind it is another cold southerly blast for the country with snow to low levels and burst of wind and rain.