It's good news for people wanting to spend the start of 2022 at the beach, with forecasters indicating temperatures are set to rise again to see in the New Year.
WeatherWatch says warm weather will be prevalent on Saturday, New Year's Day.
People heading to Wānaka for the Rythm & Alps festival - one of few festivals taking place this year - might need a swim in the lake to see off the hangovers. Temperatures are tipped to reach 29C in Wānaka on January 1.
"Starting today, Wednesday, and going into Friday we'll see the high-pressure zone move in," WeatherWatch said in a statement.
"By New Year's Day, Saturday, it will be parked smack bang over NZ bringing yet another lift in temperatures thanks to daytime heating and light winds."
On the North Island, Auckland will reach 25C on New Year's Day while holidaying hotspots Mt Maunganui and Coromandel get warm temperatures of 28 and 27C respectively.
Taupō will also reach 27C on New Year's Day, according to MetService.
Gisborne, usually home to the iconic Rythm and Vines festival on New Year's Eve - postponed to Easter by COVID-19 restrictions - will get to 24C on January 1.
"Many of us will rein in the end of 2021 and the start of 2022 with settled and warm weather," NIWA said.
"With warmer than normal sea surface temperatures, this will make for some ideal beach-time."
