The anticyclone which brought the fine weather last week will slide off to the northeast this week, allowing active spring westerlies to steer more rain over New Zealand.

The MetService is forecasting rain and showers for Tauranga this week with a brief spell of fine weather on Sunday before rain is expected on Monday.

Showers are predicted for Tauranga this week.

MetService media and communications meteorologist Daniel Corbett says this week will see a return to the active spring theme, with spells of rain, gales and even thunder in places over the coming days.

He says the first of several active fronts will slide up the country in the first half of the week.

'This weather system will ease away to the east by Wednesday, but another active system will bring a further spell of wind and rain to western areas of New Zealand later on Wednesday.

'With a general westerly flow this week temperatures will be fairly mild, with afternoon highs into the twenties in places especially in some eastern locations.”