MetService has issued a severe weather warning for Fiordland and Westland where heavy rain is expected this weekend.
Severe gales are also predicted for Otago and Canterbury.
The forecaster says the heaviest rain is expected for the Westland ranges where 250 millimetres may fall from Saturday night through to Sunday.
It says during the same period, northwest gales could become severe in exposed inland parts of Otago and Canterbury, with gusts of 120 kilometres an hour.