MetService is warning people to be ready for severe gales and heavy rain in parts of the country.
The forecaster says north-west gales are expected on Sunday afternoon in exposed eastern areas from Canterbury to Wairarapa and Wellington, as a front moves north.
It says the gales could be severe in some of those places.
MetService is predicting heavy rain near the ranges of Westland, and says rainfall levels could get close to warning level in some areas.
It is warning trampers and mountaineers heading into the high country that they're likely to encounter stormy conditions.
