It will be hot air from Australia that helps push up temperatures for New Zealand’s national holiday this Waitangi weekend reports WeatherWatch.co.nz.

The heat, which has nothing to do with ex-cyclone Yasi, has seen temperatures in Sydney hit the late 30s and other parts of Australia into the 40s across the week.

The extreme heat made the headlines in Australia but failed to pick up traction here in New Zealand with so much emphasis on Cyclone Yasi.

Temperatures around the Bay of Islands will be in the low 30s and with the humidex it may feel like the mid 30s both Saturday and Waitangi Day.

The hot, humid, weather will also continue in Auckland with the city climbing into the late 20s today and a feels like temperature in the low to mid 30s expected mid afternoon if the skies clear enough.

Hot weather will also push into Bay of Plenty and Waikato.

Eastern areas will also feel the heat, minus the extreme humidity.  The dry air, caused by the nor’westers, will see Gisborne hit at least 34 on Sunday with WeatherWatch.co.nz predicting some areas inland may climb a few degrees higher.  On Wednesday Gisborne reached 36 degrees.

The hot, gusty nor’westers will see highs between 30 and 34 from Wairarapa to Marlborough to Canterbury and Otago on Sunday.

Interestingly it’s the same high that protected New Zealand from cyclone Yasi that is pulling in the hot air from Australia. 

Australia doesn’t take all the credit for the heat though –  with the nor’westers doing their usual thing of heating things up east of the main mountains and ranges in both islands.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz

Homepage image – File, A hot and hazy day in Auckland taken from Rangitoto Island / WeatherWatch.co.nz