Start planning some outdoor entertainment on Christmas Day - golden sunshine has been forecast for much of the country.
But New Year's Eve threatens to be a washout for many revellers, with WeatherWatch analyst Philip Duncan saying wind and rain were forecast across the the North Island.
After a mini heatwave predicted for the start of the week, and fine weather for the three days after Christmas Day, Duncan said long-range forecasts suggested the handbrake was set to be temporarily pulled on summer.
"The weather gets far more messed out. The pattern is so unsettled," he said.