A slew of weather watches are in place for Aotearoa as the country heads into a blustery weekend of rain and wind.
"Heads up! The weather will turn quite unsettled on Friday-Saturday," NIWA warns.
"Winds may be damaging and rain heavy enough to cause flooding across several regions. Find your area on the maps for an indication of what to expect."
MetService has issued heavy rain watch for Nelson (west of Motueka) from Friday 1am, and the Richmond and Bryant Ranges from 4pm Friday. The Canterbury Ranges, Buller and Tararau can also expect heavy rain.
A strong wind watch is also in place for a huge stretch of the country. From Lake Tekapo, all the way North to Wellington and the southern parts of Taranaki and the Wairarapa, severe gales can be expected. The watch will be in place from 1pm on Friday to 11am on Saturday.
The wet windy weather is due to an active front moving across the country, followed by a trough of low pressure.
MetService warns the wet weather could bring flooding and slips - which in turn could make driving dangerous.
Kiwis are urged to keep an eye on MetService's website for the latest information.
