KEY POINTS:
- Heavy rain warning for Bay of Plenty
The Metservice has issued a severe weather watch for the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua, with the chance of heavy rain over the weekend.
In a statement, Metservice forecaster Erick Brenstrum said a front was slow moving over the lower North Island.
"It may move south over the upper South Island again on Saturday before moving north-eastwards over the North Island during Sunday, followed by a cold southerly flow."
Periods of heavy north to northwesterly rain were expected to the west of central and northern New Zealand ahead of the front, he said.