Smoke from Aussie bushfires turns skies over NZ orange

It's unusual to smell smoke blown across the Tasman but common to see it. Photo / Supplied

Skies around the country have been looking noticeably more hazy orange and bronze-coloured in the past few days as smoke from Australia's scorching bushfires reaches us.

MetService forecaster Erick Brenstrum said there were reports of smoke being seen, mostly over the North Island at the weekend.

"We saw it over Wellington on [Saturday] morning and then it worked its way north, so it helped the sunset - made it more colourful - over places like Waikato, Auckland and Northland that night."

Mr Brenstrum said there were huge bushfires across the Tasman every year.

"There's so much smoke generated and the heat rises high into the sky, where the winds are blowing it from them to us.

"It's unusual for people to smell it but you can see it high in the sky. It makes sunsets a bit dramatic."

Meanwhile, the weather is set to improve hugely in most parts of the country, particularly in the North Island this week, where dry conditions are expected.

A large high-pressure system is to cover a lot of the country starting from today and settling by tomorrow, meaning a drop in high winds and more sunshine.

Aucklanders can look forward to fine and dry weather, with temperature highs from 24C to 27C going into the weekend.

Mr Brenstrum said it was perfect "beach weather" in the North Island this week.

"It's better than what we've had in the past two months," he said.

Similar conditions are forecast in Hamilton and Waikato, with a few light showers expected tomorrow and Wednesday.

Mr Brenstrum said conditions might change slightly just before the Auckland Anniversary next weekend.

"It's looking like you might end up with easterlies in Auckland."