A low pressure zone (currently exiting Sydney area) will quickly track across the Tasman Sea today, with rain and some winds developing in northern NZ tonight and into Friday for the North Island. At the same time as the low arrives in the north, a windy, colder, south-westerly change will move in – this peaks on Saturday nationwide with potentially damaging gusts in a number of regions in both islands.

In true spring style it eases for many on Sunday – only for windy westerlies and more cold fronts to return next week as high pressure tracks north of the country.