Severe weather warnings have been issued for parts of the country, with forecasters predicting heavy snow, wind and rain overnight and through to Monday.
Snow is expected to fall in the northeast of the South Island and central North Island, and rain is forecast in the east of the North Island.
The MetService said up to 25cm of snow could fall in the ranges of North Canterbury and southern Marlborough.
spokesperson Tom Adams said Hawke's Bay and Gisborne could expect plenty of rain.
"We are picking very heavy rainfall amounts for Hawke's Bay and for southern parts of the Gisborne region Sunday into Monday, with a chance of that spreading north, with thunderstorms in the Bay of Plenty."
Mr Adams said strong southeasterly winds, up to 100km/h in Cook Strait, could be expected for the lower North Island from tomorrow.
