High pressure dominates most of the country today but slides off the South Island ahead of a cold front and heavy rain and strong winds for the weekend.

NORTH ISLAND:
Settled and sunny today after possible morning cloud and fog lifts. Winds are light almost everywhere but northerlies build and strengthen later in Wellington.
Highs: 18 to 23

SOUTH ISLAND:
Settled and sunny to begin with, although morning cloud and fog patches possibke. Showers in Fiordland turn to rain later. Clouds thicken on the West Coast and around Southland. Northerly quarter winds develop in the afternoon and strengthen by night. Heavy rain moves up the West Coast this evening. Warmest in the east and north.
Highs:  16 to 23

– WeatherWatch.co.nz