Kiwis advised to make the most of the sunny weather

Most of New Zealand will bask in sunshine tomorrow. File image of Maunganui Bluff on the west coast of Northland.

Most of New Zealand will bask in sunshine tomorrow, but forecasters are urging sun-seekers to act quickly to enjoy the reprieve from wintry weather.

MetService said a big wintertime high brought settled conditions to much of the nation and would keep dominating the weather tomorrow.

"The mostly fine weather continues right across the country through into Saturday, the exception being the West Coast where a weak front is expected to bring a brief period of rain, then drizzle."

MetService advised Kiwis to make the most of the sunny weather over the next two days, saying good conditions would fizzle as drizzle arrived in many places on Sunday.

Forecasters said the first few days of next week would also be unsettled for most regions.

A high pressure system moving eastwards across the Tasman Sea was largely to blame, bringing wet and windy weather to the country's western seaboard on Sunday.

"This front, preceded by strong northerlies, is well timed to blow out the candles for Wellington's Capital 150 Celebration, with a period of rain and northerly gales forecast for Sunday following a relatively fine Saturday for folk to enjoy the events," MetService meteorologist Peter Little said.

In the east, only brief patches of rain were expected on Sunday, with strong or even gale-force northwesterlies likely to push daytime temperatures into the high teens in a few places.

MetService expected more rain and wind to hit New Zealand next week, especially in the west, where strong to gale northwesterlies would make their presence felt.

MetService said people hoping to catch a tan on Tuesday and Wednesday should think again -- as a broad trough following the front would bring showery weather right across the country.

If it's any consolation, forecasters expected a damp pitch at Ellis Park, Johannesburg for the All Blacks test against the Springboks on Sunday morning.

With the unseasonal weather predicted for Jo'burg, many Kiwis waking up for the 3.05am kick-off could expect a sunnier day here than their mates in the stands or on the pitch would enjoy.