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.
Mr Brenstrum said there was a possibility of heavy rain in the Bay of Plenty, especially the eastern ranges on Saturday evening until Sunday afternoon.
Metservice forecasters would continue to monitor the situation, and people were advised to keep up to date with future forecasts in case this watch was upgraded, he said.