KEY POINTS:
Kiwis should brace themselves for a wet and blustery weekend, as a rainstorm bears down on the country.
Weatherwatch head analyst Philip Duncan said Tropical Cyclone Innis had moved south across the Tasman Sea last night.
Although it was downgraded to an intense low, it would bring heavy rain and strong winds to parts of the country by tomorrow.
"As this ex-tropical cyclone moves into the Tasman it will weaken a little more. However, it's going to pick up some hitchhikers in the Tasman Sea - areas of low pressure and rain clouds which will feed this system even more and help it intensify further," said Mr Duncan.
MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt said most of the North Island would see prolonged periods of heavy rain this weekend.
Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Central Plateau and the west coast would be affected most, with only parts of the east coast being spared.
The South Island also faced rainy periods, with only Central Otago and Fiordland likely to be dry.
Downpours of up to 30mm would relieve parched regions in Hawkes Bay, Canterbury and Marlborough.
Humidity levels are expected to rise today in northern New Zealand, including Auckland.
