As the country says goodbye to Cyclone Fili, settled weather is expected for most of New Zealand - just in time for Easter weekend.
MetService is forecasting a fine Easter for most of the country, so the Easter Bunny won't get wet delivering chocolatey treats.
The settled forecast follows a week of severe weather on the east coast of the North Island with heavy rain causing damage across Gisborne and the Wairoa District.
A combination of strong winds and rainfall caused flooding, power outages, treefalls and road closures in the region, but fortunately, they woke to blue skies on Thursday morning.
MetService has lifted all weather warnings and watches in relation to Cyclone Fili and says clean up efforts will be aided by fine weather.
"As we farewell Fili and hop into the long weekend, there will be lots of fine weather across the country," MetService meteorologist Ashlee Parkes said. "Friday will be a stunner, apart from a few showers for Fiordland and Rakiura/Stewart Island, then a front moves up the South Island during Sunday."
On Sunday, scattered rain will make its way north across the South Island followed by a strong southwesterly flow. MetService says there is potential for heavy rainfall in Fiordland and southern Westland and possible severe gale westerlies for coastal Southland, Clutha, and Stewart Island.
The front weakens considerably as it continues north, only bringing a few light showers to the lower North Island.
However, conditions will begin to deteriorate in Northland later on Sunday as a sub-tropical low slowly sinks southward.
"Rain will develop in Northland during Sunday and spread into Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula late evening," Parkes said. "The rain looks like it spreads farther south over the rest of the upper North Island during Monday, but there is still uncertainty, especially with timing, on who exactly will see the wet weather."
Other regions across the country will see a fine Sunday and Monday to finish off the long weekend.
For people travelling on Monday or returning from their Easter getaways, MetService recommends travellers keep up to date with the latest forecasts on their website.
