A storm centred near Antarctica with very low air pressure will push gales and heavy rain into parts of New Zealand over the coming days, says a MetService spokesperson. 

With the air pressure dropping to 950hPa at times the storm is expected to have a colder tail on Wednesday for some in the south.

It could be described as an Autumn blast with wind being the main feature, says the MetService.

Northern NZ will be least affected and southern and central parts of the country most exposed.

As for Monday, the centre of the large low pressure system will shift from being near Antarctica to closer to NZ - this will bring a burst of stronger gales into exposed and southern parts of the South Island with winds from the west to north west direction.

Damaging gusts are possible and heavy rain is due to set into the southern half of the West Coast.

Elsewhere winds pick up, especially around Wellington and Cook Strait and the lower North Island, but windier weather will spread up the country into Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty too.

The North Island is mostly dry for Monday but a few showers will pepper the western coastal side.

Tuesday sees windy weather continue although should be less intense.

Wednesday has colder air around the South Island with snow on the ranges as the storm system moves away.