Christchurch has recorded its lowest temperature of the year, with the airport dropping to –2.7°C as frosty conditions and cooler overnight temperatures settle over much of the country this week.

Auckland also reached its coldest point of 2026, with 0.3°C recorded at its airport.

MetService meteorologist Paris Marshall said even normally mild northern regions would feel the bite.

“Even Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, and the Coromandel, areas that are usually too warm to see frost, will see some patches,” Marshall said.

A large area of high pressure centred over New Zealand is driving the settled but cold conditions. High pressure systems often bring clear skies and light winds, which let heat escape more readily overnight, leading to low morning temperatures and widespread winter frosts.

A band of rain is forecast to approach the South Island on Friday, but the high pressure system is proving strong, with rainfall gradually easing as it reaches Canterbury on Friday afternoon.

“You could say the high is acting like a warrior in holding its ground, weakening the rain band as it moves northwards,” Marshall said.

High pressure is expected to remain the dominant feature through much of the weekend, bringing generally settled conditions to most regions. That will provide a settled end to the Fieldays event and favourable conditions for the Warriors’ clash against the Sharks on Saturday evening in Auckland.

“Warrior fans may need to wrap up a little warmer than usual as the sun goes down, but otherwise expect light winds and passing cloud for the game,” Marshall said.

Another weather system is expected to approach New Zealand late on Sunday, bringing a warmer air mass. It will gradually dislodge the high and bring wetter weather to start the new week.