High pressure crosses over the top of the North Island on Wednesday allowing for westerlies to build further south.

As we go across Wednesday and into Anzac Day Thursday those winds strengthen further thanks to a storm south of NZ.

Blustery nor’west winds will spread up the country with gales in exposed places on Thursday, mostly through the Southern Alps, Cook Strait and Wellington.

Rain sets in on the West Coast tomorrow followed by a colder change in the south.

Mildest and most settled weather will be in northern NZ.

• WeatherWatch.co.nz