Bay of Plenty residents can expect a mixed bag of weather over the next few days, with rain, cooler temperatures and gusty winds giving way to a brighter Halloween weekend.

A band of rain was moving north across the country on Thursday, bringing wet conditions to parts of the Bay of Plenty, before cooler southwesterly winds and scattered showers.

MetService meteorologist Vivien Whyte said the unsettled weather continued into Friday as cooler air spreads across much of New Zealand.

“In fact, blustery showers and a spot of hail are on the cards for coastal Canterbury and the lower North Island,” Whyte said.

While parts of the country were in for a chilly end to the week, Bay of Plenty residents can look forward to a more settled Saturday.

A ridge of high pressure is expected to move over the North Island on Halloween, bringing mostly fine weather and sunny spells across the region. The improved conditions should provide ideal weather for trick-or-treating, outdoor events and sporting fixtures planned throughout the weekend.

The fine spell is not expected to last everywhere, however, with another front forecast to move on to the South Island on Sunday, bringing fresh rain to Southland.

Bay of Plenty and much of the North Island are likely to remain under more settled conditions heading into the latter part of the weekend.