Sun set to show its face on big day

The sun is set to shine in Rotorua on Christmas day.

Despite a rainy build-up, Christmas and Boxing Day in Rotorua will be mostly fine, forecasters say.

Niwa's Christmas week forecast sees a ridge to the east of New Zealand directing a warm northerly flow over the country tomorrow and Boxing Day, bringing pleasant weather conditions.

MetService duty forecaster Chelsea Glue said weather for the Rotorua region and urban area should be nice over Christmas and going into the weekend. Temperatures in the early 20s are predicted until Saturday.

"On Thursday and Friday there will be morning cloud and then it should be fine for most of the day. There will be some isolated afternoon and evening showers for the Rotorua region.

"For Rotorua's urban area, on Thursday there is a chance of an afternoon shower. In the wider region there are a few [showers] around, but not too many and it should be nice.

"Saturday there will be fine spells with the odd shower."

A high of 20C is forecast tomorrow with a low of 11C. Friday and Saturday will have a high of 21C, with a low of 11C for Friday and a low of 12C for Saturday.

The Health Promotion Agency's SunSmart manager Laurianne Reinsborough said sunburn was a concern over the summer period.

"Sunburn is a big concern because it's linked to melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, and New Zealand has one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world.

"It's especially important to use sun protection between 10am and 4pm from September to April when the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays are strongest. But depending where in New Zealand you are, the time sun protection is needed is often longer."

Canterbury is tipped to be the hottest region this Christmas with temperatures in the high 20s.