A high covering most of New Zealand is expected to bring fine weather to the Bay as people prepare for the long Easter weekend.

But the MetService is forecasting a front to bring rain to the west and south of the South Island on Saturday, before weakening as it moves onto the North Island ahead of another area of high pressure building over the country on Easter Sunday.

Sunshine is expected to start Easter weekend before showers move in towards the end of the weekend.

'With the exception of the West Coast on Saturday, most places are looking reasonably dry and fine for Easter activities,” says MetService meteorologist Stephen Glassey.

'However, showers could still affect parts of the North Island associated with the weakening front.” On Monday, a strengthening northerly flow develops over New Zealand as the high pulls away to the east.

'The return of the northerly winds will mean some heavy rain is back in the forecast for Fiordland and southern Westland,” says Stephen.

'In the east however, the weather looks to stay dry for the extra day of the weekend, but with the winds still set to increase.” Temperatures over the weekend should reach the twenties with the warmest spots likely to be found in the east of both islands.

For Saturday the forecast temperatures are set to climb to 26C in Napier and Hastings.