High pressure is bulging over New Zealand today spreading out from a large high centre in the Tasman Sea, says a WeatherWatch spokesperson.

"The weather today for most regions is nice and settled. There may be some cloud about though and it will be a chilly start for some, especially inland."

Any morning cloud is expected to clear from Waikato and Bay Of Plenty skies leaving a sunny day with temperatures reaching between 20-23 degrees Celsius.

"Further north expect some cloud then breaking to sunny spells, [with a] chance of a shower on the western coastal fringe then drying out in the afternoon."

Southerly quarter winds are forecast to be tending to the east in the afternoon.

In the western North Island, including central North Island, it's expected to be mostly sunny with winds tending southeasterly in the morning and highs between 16-21.

The eastern North Island should experience a mix of sun and cloud, with a chance of a shower about the coastal fringe around midday. Temperature highs during the day will be between 17-20 degrees Celsius. There may be southerly winds, dying out in the evening.

In Wellington the forecast is for cloud breaks to a mostly sunny afternoon, with southerlies tending to the north in the evening, and highs from 16-19.

Marlborough and Nelson are forecast to have morning cloud breaks, then a sunny day with light winds for Marlborough, and Nelson has a sunny day with afternoon northerlies. Temperature highs are expected to reach between 16-18 degrees Celsius.

Canterbury has a sunny day ahead following morning cloud across the Canterbury Plains breaking away. Light winds should tend east to northeast in the afternoon and temperatures will be around 16-19 degrees.

It's a mostly sunny day ahead for the West Coast although there may be some coastal cloud at times north of about Haast. The region is forecast to have light winds with highs today between 16-19.

In Southland and Otago, the forecast is for a mix of sun and cloud for Southland, with westerly winds freshening after midday. And it's sunny for Otago with a cold start inland, and light winds. Temperature highs for these two regions are expected to be between 16-19 degrees Celsius.