Wild weather on the way for everyone

A satellite image shows the front that is bringing storms and a bleak weekend to New Zealand. Photo / Supplied

The big wet is about to get bigger, wetter ... and windier.

MetService forecaster Andy Downs said last night that wild weather would worsen over the next few days, bringing a bleak weekend to most parts of the country.

And the long-term outlook is for "more of the same", because of the large number of low-pressure systems developing in the Tasman Sea and making a beeline for New Zealand.

"The Tasman is the source of all this. Basically, as far as we can see, there are more lows coming."

Mr Downs said most areas of New Zealand could expect to be hit by the trough that hammered Mt Hutt yesterday and overnight.

Wind and rain were expected to move on to Taranaki and the high country from today, hitting Bay of Plenty about 3pm tomorrow.

"We can also expect water on roads and slips in some areas of the Bay of Plenty."

Auckland would also have rain this weekend, Mr Downs said.

"There will be northerly winds turning to nor-nor-easterly and getting quite strong, with widespread rain.

"Some of the nor-nor-easterly could be gales. On Saturday, there will be rain with heavy falls leading eventually to showers."

The showers would ease by Sunday.