A front is expected to move slowly east over the North Island during Tuesday and
Wednesday, says a MetService spokesperson.

"A trough moves northwards across the South Island on Tuesday, bringing a burst of rain to the west coast, followed by a southerly change."

The MetServices says the trough is forecast to move north over the North Island on Wednesday and merge with the front.

"A ridge should build over southern and central parts of the South Island from late Wednesday to Thursday."

A low is forecast to form to the northeast of the North Island late Thursday.

"It should then move southwards to the east of the North Island on Friday."

There is moderate confidence of warning amounts of rain for Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui including Tongariro National Park and Taupo on Tuesday.

There is also moderate confidence of warning amounts of rain for Northland, Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula during Tuesday and early Wednesday.

There is high confidence of warning amounts of rain for Bay of Plenty and about East Cape from Tuesday to Thursday.

There is moderate confidence of heavy rain for Gisborne excluding East Cape during Thursday and Friday.