Aucklanders could be forgiven for thinking it was summer already, but the settled and sunny weather of the past few days is over, with patchy showers forecast through the weekend.
Wet weather will appear in most parts of the country over the next three days. Rainfall will be heaviest in the west of both islands, MetService meteorologist Kyle Lee said.
Today the east coast should stay relatively dry, but a front crosses the south later today, bringing showers overnight and into the morning for Christchurch.
MetService has issued a weather watch for heavy rain in Fiordland and Southern Westland today.
Tomorrow, North Islanders should expect a few showers through the day, Lee said.