After a wet few days, the North Island is at last set for some drier, sunnier weather on Thursday.
But it's not looking so bright for the South Island though, with rain, wind and possible thunderstorms forecast for many areas.
The rainy conditions down south come as a low and associated fronts move across from the Tasman Sea on Thursday afternoon and evening, MetService says.
"It's already been a busy week for weather and there's more on the way tomorrow for the South Island as an active front brings heavy rain and strong northwesterly winds," says MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris.
"The North Island will see the effects of this front on Friday, but it makes way for a relatively settled weekend."
There will be a moderate risk of thunderstorms for coastal Fiordland on Thursday afternoon, which will spread to all of Fiordland, Westland, Buller and western parts of Southland, Otago and Canterbury during the evening, MetService said.
Southland, Clutha, Central Otago and the MacKenzie Basin all have a low risk of thunderstorms on Thursday night.
As of Wednesday evening, the MetService had a heavy rain watch in place around Mt Taranaki, a heavy rain warning in the Tararua Range, and a strong wind watch around Marlborough, including the Sounds and Wellington, and the Wairarapa, including the Tararua District.
In the south, heavy rain warnings were in place in the ranges of Buller and Nelson west of Motueka, as well as the Nelson Lakes, and around the headwaters of Canterbury Lakes and rivers north of Arthurs Pass, Westland, and the headwaters of Canterbury Lakes and rivers about and south of Arthurs Pass. Fiordland from the Doubtful Sound northwards also had a heavy rain warning.
A strong wind warning is in place in the Canterbury High Country, and a strong wind watch in place in exposed parts of inland Otago.
The wet conditions down south come as New Zealand is expected to be battered by incoming southerlies over the next couple of weeks.
The cooler winds will move across the country this week and may keep coming until Christmas, NIWA predicted.
