Break out the gumboots, it's gonna get cold and wet

Cold winds and heavy rain are set to visit the Western Bay of Plenty from tomorrow, as wintry weather sweeps across New Zealand.

A trough moving east across the country will bring cooler temperatures and wet weather for most on Friday and Saturday.

Metservice meteorologist Emma Blades said the rain will travel up the country, arriving in the Western Bay as scattered showers overnight and building into some heavy falls tomorrow and Friday.

A southerly change will arrive on Friday and last until about Saturday night, chilling things down for most Bay residents.

However, temperatures will most likely stay around the late teens and early 20s, Ms Blades said.

The Western Bay would likely escape the worst of the nation's weather, she said.

''People with dry gardens and farmers will appreciate the rain but people getting caught out in it, not so much.''

Things are expected to fine up by Sunday with mainly fine weather forecast.