An anticyclone covers New Zealand on Thursday bringing mainly settled weather, meanwhile a large low in the Tasman Sea flings a front over the lower South Island overnight.

Mostly sunny for the North Island on Thursday, there may be some cloud about. Perhaps a light morning shower for East Cape and Wellington then clearing.

The South Island is mostly sunny however expect areas of morning cloud in the east then breaking away. Rain moves into Fiordland overnight with heavy falls.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz