Weather: Last week of the year set to be wet, severe warnings in holiday hotspots

The last few days of 2025 are forecast to be wet for much of the country, with heavy rain warnings issued for some holiday hotspots in the lead-up to the new year.

MetService has issued a number of severe weather warnings and watches for parts of New Zealand.

Meteorologist Katie Lyons said a rain band was due to sink south tomorrow and Tuesday, bringing heavy rain to eastern areas.

“Particularly the Coromandel, Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay - are really in the firing line most for the heavy rain. It’s a reasonably slow-moving system as well.

Severe rain and wind warnings

🟡🟧Wet Weather for Holiday and Festival Goers🟧🟡

Monday and into Tuesday weather gets wet and wild with heavy rain and gale southeasterlies.

Check for any Severe Weather Warnings or Watches for your area here: https://t.co/qHyE5zzql5 pic.twitter.com/XIAEgZglyy

— MetService NZ (@MetService) December 27, 2025

“So the rain will be long-lived, reasonably persistent and, in amongst that, there could be some heavy falls,” she said.

“We’ve got [Rhythm and Vines] going on in Gisborne, so definitely not ideal. And then obviously Coromandel and Hawke’s Bay are very popular holiday destinations, so I’m sure this will put a damper on a lot of people’s plans.”

Other areas of the North Island are also in for some prolonged rain, Lyons said, with a few heavy rain watches out in places including the Bay of Plenty and Wairarapa.

“It’s going to be pretty wet for the whole of the North Island tomorrow and through to Tuesday.”

An orange heavy rain warning is in place for the Coromandel Peninsula until 9pm tomorrow, having started at 3am. People there are advised to expect 90 to 130mm of rain, with peak rates of 15 to 25mm/h expected from late tomorrow morning.

“Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips and difficult driving conditions possible,” the warning says.

Those heading to the Rhythm and Vines Festival should also be aware of a heavy rain warning in place in Gisborne / Tairāwhiti starting at 6am tomorrow to 3am on Tuesday.

Up to 100 to 140mm of rain is expected - possibly around 140 to 180mm north of Tolaga Bay. Peak rates of between 15 to 25mm/h is expected, but possibly 25 to 30mm/h north of Tolaga Bay.

The same orange rain warning has been issued in the Hawke’s Bay for the 23 hours starting 10am tomorrow to 9am on Tuesday.

Up to 90 to 130mm of rain is expected in the area during that time.

The last week of the year is forecast to be wet for many places. Photo / Dean Purcell

An orange strong wind warning is in place for Manawatū and Horowhenua and Kāpiti Coast starting tomorrow at 5pm to 9am on Tuesday.

Aucklanders can expect nothing but rain tomorrow, with a temperature high of 22C and overnight low of 18C.

Periods of heavy rain are forecast to develop in the morning - possibly heavy - easing to a few showers by the evening.

A strong wind watch is also in place for the City of Sails between 6am and 4pm tomorrow.

New Year’s Day weather: ‘Have a Plan B’

Asked about the weather forecast for New Year’s Day, Lyons said both New Year’s Eve and the first day of 2026 will be a “mixed bag” of weather around the country.

But with a low set to stick around still - to the west of the country - we could expect a few showers.

“It’s not looking like it’s going to be beautiful weather anywhere, really - not in large chunks of the country, at least, for New Year’s Eve.

“But I think closer to the time ...you might be able to do that A-game plan and head out for New Year’s Eve and catch the fireworks and all that.

“But yeah, probably good to have a plan B.”

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