The MetService advise that from Tuesday through to Thursday, a ridge should lie over the North Island.

'Meanwhile, a front in the west of the South Island should remain slow moving there on Tuesday and Wednesday, then start moving east on Thursday before moving onto central New Zealand on Friday,” says a MetService spokesperson.

'This front delivers a period of northerly rain to western parts of central and southern New Zealand during this time.”

For Westland south of Hokitika, Fiordland north of Secretary Island and the headwaters of Otago lakes and rivers, there is low confidence of rainfall accumulations reaching warning criteria on Tuesday and Wednesday, then the risk increases to moderate on Thursday.

On Thursday, there is low confidence a heavy rain warning will be required for northern Westland and Buller, then for northwest Nelson on Thursday and Friday, and for Mount Taranaki on Friday.