A low to the northeast of the North Island is slowly moving away to the southeast today taking with it some rain, says WeatherWatch.

"For the South Island we have thickening cloud in the east with a light shower or two, perhaps rain later for Canterbury," says a WeatherWatch spokesperson.

For Bay of Plenty, Northland, Auckland and Waikato, the weather forecast today is mostly cloudy, with showers or maybe even rain for Northland, Auckland and Coromandel - mainly in the east.

This will be spreading into coastal Bay of Plenty around midday, clearing away during the afternoon with sun increasing as southerlies tend southwest. Temperature highs for these four regions are expected to be between 18 and 23 degrees Celsius.

Western North Island including Central North Island
Morning fog or low cloud then mostly sunny, southeasterlies freshen from afternoon with cloud thickening later on.
Highs: 18 – 22

Eastern North Island
Mostly sunny with some high cloud, cloudy north of Gisborne with rain. Light winds tend southerly in the afternoon with cloud gradually increasing, showers develop in the evening.
Highs: 20 – 23

Wellington
A mix of sun and cloud, northerlies change to the south in the afternoon. Cloud thickens evening with a few showers possible later on.
Highs: 15 – 20

Marlborough and Nelson
Mostly sunny, cloud starts to develop for Marlborough from afternoon then Nelson in the evening as southeasterlies freshen, evening showers or drizzle moves in for Marlborough.
Highs: 18 – 19

Canterbury
Clear at first then cloud thickens from the south as south to southeasterly winds develop, winds tend easterly late afternoon. A few showers develop in the afternoon then there may be some late rain.
Highs: 14 – 20

West Coast Morning cloud clears then mostly sunny, fog for inland Buller morning and night. Morning showers clear Fiordland. West to southwesterly winds.
Highs: 15 – 21

Southland & Otago
Early showers clear then sunny spells develop, showers may return again in the evening for Southland and coastal Otago. Southwesterlies, tending southerly in the afternoon for Otago.
Highs: 13 – 18