Heavy rain is fast approaching for the sunshine capital, with a weather watch possibly turning into a full warning later this weekend.

A complex low pressure system is currently approaching New Zealand from the Tasman Sea, with most of the North Island receiving wet weather as the front spreads over.

The South Island will also experience wet weather, but mostly in the central and northern areas.

For the Bay of Plenty the heaviest of rain is expected to hit early Sunday morning and will ease by Monday at 6am.

MetService advise people to stay up to date with the latest forecasts as parts of this Watch could be upgraded to a full warning and further areas may be added.