Heatwave to hit parts of NZ

Parts of New Zealand can expect a scorching start to the week next week.

New Zealand can expect a scorching start to next week as a mini heatwave spreads across eastern and southern parts of the country.

MetService is forecasting higher-than-usual temperatures for much of the South Island and central and eastern areas of the North Island.

Christchurch is tipped to swelter in a scorching 33C on Monday and Gisborne can expect to hit 29C on Tuesday.

Meterologist Emma Blades said temperatures would start rising at the weekend. "It's like a tongue of warm air that's being pulled across from Australia over the South Island." An area of high pressure will contribute to settled weather and clearer skies.

"It's certainly something we'll be keeping an eye on," she said. MetService is forecasting Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough and Otago will have the country's highest temperatures on Monday.

A day later the North Island's eastern and central regions are expected to reach 28 and 29C. But the heatwave is expected to be short-lived and temperatures should return to normal for the remainder of the week.

At this stage Christmas Day is expected to be mainly fine throughout the country.