KEY POINTS:
If you were thinking of barbecues in the sun on Christmas Day, think again.
Apart from quake-stricken Gisborne, which is set to receive some well-deserved rays, wet weather is forecast for most of New Zealand.
MetService forecaster Bob Lake says a front which hit the South Island off the Tasman Sea yesterday will reach most parts of the North Island by tomorrow afternoon, bringing showers.
"The best place to be is the east coast/Hawkes Bay area where it will be dry. They may get a few sprinkles at night but not as bad as the rest of the country. All other areas - north, west and south - will receive rain for some time."
Taranaki should expect heavy bursts of rain. Nelson and Buller in the South Island will experience heavy rain in the afternoon and early evening as the front moves north.
Otago and Fiordland areas will start off dry in the morning but another front hitting the region later in the day will bring more rain.
However, temperatures in most parts of the country will be high, with Hastings and Gisborne reaching highs of 26C and 27C respectively.
Auckland will reach highs of 22C and Christchurch 25C.
Boxing Day will be cooler as a southwesterly wind moves over most of the country.
Western parts of the country will receive showers with the driest area again being Gisborne.
