Wet, windy and warm weather is expected to round out the weekend

Heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast in Westland, Fiordland, and Canterbury, south of Arthur's Pass today.

Strong northwesterlies are also on the cards for the lower North Island and most of the South Island.

Meanwhile, MetService Metereologist Thapi Makgabutlane says the warm air from the Australian heatwave combining with the winds, could push temperatures to near record-highs.

She says Kerikeri has already reached a record temperature for January - and many areas are under a heat alert.