New Zealand and Australia have high pressure this weekend, but it's not perfectly settled with a weak southerly from Sunday to Tuesday driving in further showers across NZ.

High pressure lies over most of New Zealand today bringing mainly settled weather, says WeatherWatch.

"There will be large dry areas outside of this showery zone though.

"Australia is mostly settled thanks to a lot of high pressure, but east to south east winds means coastal Queensland will see plenty of showers in the days ahead."

WeatherWatch says this coming week, as one high departs and the next one from Australia is yet to move to in, a low pressure zone may rapidly deepen in the Tasman Sea and affect NZ with severe weather.

"This is not yet locked in – but it has been showing up all week in long range computer modelling and the location of this low is favourable for it to deepen and affect populated places."

For today, Saturday May 12, Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty is set to have a mostly sunny day, with a few clouds starting to drift in from the west in the afternoon onwards. There may be the odd shower, especially western Waikato northwards. Also expect light southwesterly winds with highs between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius.

Western North Island (including Central North Island)
Mostly sunny, a few clouds at times. Taranaki has the risk of a shower. Light winds.
Highs: 11-16

Eastern North Island
A mix of sun and cloud, there may be a shower along some coastal parts otherwise mainly dry. Southwesterlies.
Highs: 15-18

Wellington
Mostly sunny, light winds.
Highs: 15-16

Marlborough & Nelson
Sunny, light winds tend onshore in the afternoon.
Highs: 15-16

Canterbury
Mostly sunny, a few clouds. A touch of high cloud later in the day. Light winds tend northeast across the plains.
Highs: 12-15

West Coast
Partly cloudy, north of Greymouth is sunny in the morning then some cloud moves in. A few showers for Fiordland turns to rain in the evening. Light winds.
Highs: 13-16

Southland & Otago
Sun and some high cloud, a few spits of rain possible late afternoon or evening, overnight showers for Southland. Light northwesterlies.
Highs: 12-16