MetService meteorologist William Nepe said most places in the southern regions would be dry compared with the North Island, which was looking to be mainly wet.
A front would move quite quickly up the country from the southwest tomorrow, bringing showers and significantly cooler temperatures to Southland and Otago, he said.
While it might be raining when you wake up on New Year’s Eve, the front was expected to pass over reasonably quickly and the rain would clear in most places during the day to make way for a reasonably dry midnight celebration, Mr Nepe said.
"The showers may cling on around Invercargill and the Clutha area.
"Most places are going to see some showers on Sunday, but if I was to pick a spot to celebrate New Year’s Eve, the weather looks like it will be best in the Queenstown Lakes district."
On New Year’s Day morning, the flow would move more northwest, bringing some more showers to coastal Southland and Clutha, but Otago’s weather was looking warm and dry with temperatures returning to the mid-20s again in Central Otago, Mr Nepe said.
People would be able to plan with "reasonable confidence" to have outdoor activities and barbecues on Monday.
Overall, the first few days of 2024 would be relatively settled.
"There’s a ridge of high pressure building over much of the country, but there’s still a risk of some afternoon showers on Tuesday and Wednesday in parts of Otago and Southland, but it will be mostly fine."
