There would be a sprinkling of rain over Saturday afternoon, but this is isolated to the Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and Western Taranaki.
"There'll be a bit of cloud up around Wellington and the Kāpiti Coast - otherwise Saturday will be a fine day."
James said the chillier temperatures that have had Kiwis reaching for that extra blanket this week are here to stay.
"It has been quite cold recently... It will be the same going forward."
A drop in temperatures was typical for this time of year, he said.
"Everyone's always surprised when the seasons change - even though it happens every year."
The weather wasn't looking quite as settled down south.
"At the moment there's a ridge of high pressure sitting over New Zealand, and a front coming on to the South Island," James said.
This meant some wet weather for South Islanders, he said, as well as a fair amount of cloud.
"That will mainly affect Fiordland and the West Coast - the east will be mostly dry."
The forecast for Sunday was similar over both islands.
In several areas the cloud will disappear, making way for a clear, sunny day.
Temperatures in Auckland and Northland could get up just above 20C. Wellingtonians could expect a high of 18C.
"There will be some isolated showers in the northern Bay of Plenty and the Kāpiti Coast near Wellington, but fine elsewhere," James said.
"There could be some morning low cloud about, or fog, in central areas."
