Aucklanders were treated to the colourful sights of Diwali at Aotea Square today. / Video by Jason Oxenham
After days of mixed weather, things are set to improve just as the kids head back to school.
A high pressure system is moving in from the Tasman, bringing more settled weather to most of the country this week.
Much of the North Island felt the benefits of the weather system yesterday, basking in golden sunshine. The gorgeous day in Auckland brought the crowds to the Diwali Festival in Aotea Square this weekend.
And more sun is forecast for today and into next week, as school kids get set to return to class after the holidays.
The sunshine was set to continue on Monday and Tuesday, apart from a few light showers for places in the top of the North Island including Auckland.
The front was also set to bring rain and some heavy downpours to the Westcoast.
Showers were expected to linger in the south until Tuesday.
"Then the high will push [the rain] out to the east," said Millward.
However, Millward said Marlborough and Nelson were expected to escape the wet weather. A sunny day, with highs of 18C was forecast for the top of South Island on Sunday.
Temperamental weather wrought havoc on school holiday plans. Heavy rain was interspersed with fine spells for much of the country throughout the two week break.
The mixed weather continued yesterday as light rain in the top of the North Island was broken up by fine spells. Meanwhile, showers soaked the bottom of the South Island.
The forecast
Sunny weather is set to see out the school holidays in Auckland. Photo/Doug Sherring
Whangarei Today: Few showers from late morning, clearing by afternoon. 18C Monday: Cloudy periods with the odd shower. Southwesterly breezes. 18C Tuesday: Fine spells with southwesterlies. 18C
Auckland Today: A few showers developing in the morning, clearing by afternoon. 17C Monday: Cloudy periods with the odd shower. Southwesterly breezes. 17C Tuesday: Cloud clearing then fine. 17C
Hamilton Today: Morning cloud and rain, clearing by afternoon. Southwesterlies. 17C Monday: Cloudy periods with the odd shower. Southwesterly breezes. 17C Tuesday: Cloud clearing and southwesterlies dying out. 17C.
Tauranga Today: Mainly fine apart from the odd morning shower. Westerly breezes. 18C. Monday: Cloudy periods. Westerlies easing. 19C Tuesday: Partly cloudy. 19C.
Wellington Today: A few showers, clearing by afternoon. Northwesterlies. 15C Monday: Cloudy periods and a few showers from morning. Strong northwesterly, then southerly. 17C. Tuesday: Mainly fine after showers clear. Southerlies for a time. 15C.
Christchurch Today: Showers clearing early morning, then fine. Gusty northerlies developing in the afternoon. 18C. Monday: Rainy periods, easing to drizzle in the evening. 14C. Tuesday: Morning drizzle, then fine before late showers kick in. Southerlies developing. 19C.
Dunedin Today: Fine. Gusty northerlies developing in the afternoon and rain late evening. 19C. Monday: Early rain with the odd shower until evening. 13C. Tuesday: Partly cloudy, patchy rain and southerlies developing. 16C
