Sun and some cloud reign the skies

The weather is perfect for Queen's Birthday events on Queens Wharf, Auckland. Photo / Supplied

Sunny skies and a bit of cloud reign over the country this Queen's Birthday holiday.

A high pressure ridge over the North and South Islands is forecast to stick around until at least tomorrow through to early Wednesday, bringing fine conditions.

Temperatures remain low, particularly in the early hours - with some temperatures dropping to -5C in the South Island this morning.

The coldest temperature in Auckland this morning was 6C; which was only a degree warmer than early yesterday.

A high of 16C is expected in the City of Sails today, with an overnight low of 11C. It will be mostly sunny but with high cloud increasing and easterly winds.

MetService meteorologist Gerard Barrow said temperatures around the country were similar to conditions yesterday.

"It's not too bad. Again, it's going to be another fine day of settled weather for most of the country.

"There might be a bit more high-ish cloud over the northern regions of the country, but it shouldn't spoil the day, really."

Mr Barrow said the coldest place overnight was in the Tekapo area, in Canterbury, where it got to -6C.

"Some places in central Otago got to -5C and some of the high elevation sections in the central North Island also got to -4C," he said.

Palmerston North, Hamilton and Tauranga are all in for lots of sunshine today, with temperature highs of 14C, 15, and 16C forecast respectively.

Whangarei has a high of 17C and an overnight low of 14C and Napier is expected to be mostly sunny with southerly breezes, according to the MetService.

Those in Wellington - where it reached 8C before midnight last night - can expect a high of 14C today and some cloudy periods with "a few spots [of] morning drizzle" and some southerly winds.

There is sunshine forecast all over the South Island; with a high of 14C in Nelson, 12C in Dunedin and the same in Christchurch.

Queenstown will get some light winds today with a 10C high and an overnight low of -1C. While those in Invercargill will have to wrap up tight tonight, as an overnight low of -4C is expected there.

Mr Barrow said the fine weather is expected to last until at least tomorrow and early Wednesday; although a band of rain was heading towards New Zealand by the end of Wednesday.

"Moving into Wednesday, surely the last part of Wednesday, there's going to be a band of rain approaching the country which will most probably start affecting western areas late on Wednesday."

He said although it was still a little early to say how conditions would be later in the week, he said: "During Thursday, that [band of rain] should affect a reasonable part of the country."