MetService said the settled, dry weather "is expected to prevail across much of the country this weekend".
"This is due to a slow-moving ridge of high pressure over central New Zealand."
However, a southwest wind flow in the South Island's far south would bring cloudy periods and a few light showers there, along with cooler temperatures.
That meant Christchurch, Timaru and parts of Otago could expect patchy, light rain and drizzle today
Christchurch is tipped to hit a chilly high of 18C.
A weak front is also forecast to begin moving northwards over eastern parts of southern and central New Zealand this evening.
That would mean the end of the weekend could turn cloudy, with patchy rain to the eastern South Island and southern and eastern parts of the North Island as far north as Hawke's Bay.
Easterly winds are also expected to develop over Northland today, bringing increasing cloud and scattered rain.
It comes after Auckland basked in a radiant high of 27C yesterday, while Hanmer Springs climbed to 32C and Blenheim hit 31C.