He said the West Coast has a better chance for sunny and still conditions.
“Hokitika I would probably say is the place to be tomorrow – it’s pretty much fine all day, winds are not particularly strong, and a clear evening for watching fireworks.”
Queenstown was Holden’s other pick, which he said will be clear and still for the big night.
But Holden said it could be a soggy night for the country’s largest New Year’s Eve festival, just outside of Gisborne.
Rhythm and Vines festival-goers arrived at the three-day event amid warnings to avoid beaches and waterways after Boxing Day’s severe rain overwhelmed the city’s wastewater system, while weather conditions caused strong rips and large waves.
Heavy rain and severe thunderstorm watches remain in place on Monday, with more rain on the way.
Holden said the rain is expected to ease later in the evening on New Year’s Eve.
“It does thankfully dry up a bit heading towards midnight tomorrow, but it’s still pretty soggy at that point, and not particularly an appealing place to be.”
A SwimSafe warning is still in place for Waikanae Beach because of dangerous conditions. Gisborne District Council is warning against swimming, fishing or shellfish gathering at Turanganui River and Waikanae Beach because of sewage pollution for at least five days after the sewage outfall valves are closed and warning signs are removed.
Holden said there was a possibility the severe rain watch in place for Wairoa could be upgraded to a severe rain warning depending on how the forecast thunderstorms play out in the district.
He said the erratic weather is not entirely unexpected, with summer often providing extremes.
“It’s a double-edged sword at the best of the times, sometimes you get a big high pressure system, with lovely settled weather and clear skies, otherwise you just get these awful energetic systems that are drinking all the summertime heat and getting more severe.”
– RNZ
Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
