'Happy weather' coming this weekend as big high heads towards New Zealand

"Happy weather" is coming to New Zealand, NIWA says, with a ridge of high pressure headed towards us from the Tasman Sea this weekend.

The big high will bring "mainly settled" conditions across the country after chilly winds petered out on Thursday, MetService says.

"After a cold start for many [on Friday], any showers will be confined to areas exposed to the southwest flow, the upper west coast of the North Island, most of the west coast of the South Island and the far south during Friday and Saturday."

"This is welcome news for those wanting to plan any outdoor events or activities, or just a break from the cold wintry weather, as well as anyone looking to attend the Super Rugby Aotearoa games in Christchurch on Saturday night and in Auckland on Sunday."

NIWA says the settled conditions are likely to last until later next week, when "a disturbance could impact New Zealand from the north".

This disturbance is a rainmaking low pressure system in the Tasman Sea, Weather Watch says. But for the next few days at least, bad weather won't be on the agenda for most of the country.

"This coming weekend a light to moderate southwesterly airflow lies over the country, this continues to bring the odd shower out west (plenty of dry spells too) and dry conditions in the east," Weather Watch analyst Aaron Wilkinson said.

"Monday is mainly dry across most of New Zealand, just a light shower or two for Fiordland and perhaps Coromandel and Great Barrier Island."

Weather Watch says subtropical breezes will warm up southern parts of the country, and there will be just the odd shower on the western side of the country.

"New Zealand's 'weird winter' continues as we go back to a much more settled weather pattern in the days ahead thanks to high pressure," the forecaster said.

"July looks likely to end on a warm note with sub-tropical winds developing mid next week – and August looks set to kick off mainly dry."