A ridge moves in on Thursday bringing a more settled looking picture, however there is still some cloud and a few showers about the North Island to gradually clear away.

A mix of sun and cloud for the upper North Island with west to southwesterly winds. The Bay Of Plenty is mostly sunny. Cloudy areas with a shower or two possible for the lower western North Island, clearing early afternoon then areas of sun increase. West to southwesterly winds, breezy about the Taranaki coast.

Areas of cloud along the east coast, sun breaking through at times. Risk of a shower or two otherwise mainly dry. Southwesterly winds. Early showers clear Wellington then becoming mainly sunny, southerlies ease then die out by evening.

Morning cloud clears then becoming mostly sunny about Nelson and Marlborough, light winds tend north to northeasterly in the afternoon. Mainly sunny for Canterbury, afternoon east to northeasterly winds.

Mostly sunny along the West Coast, some morning cloud breaks away from about Greymouth northwards. Evening cloud about South Westland then some overnight rain or perhaps more towards dawn on Friday. North to northwesterly winds develop. Sunny for Southland and Otago after any coastal morning cloud clears, westerlies tend east to northeast late afternoon. Light winds inland with a light frost possible to start the day.