Heavy rain, gales forecast

Heavy rain and gales are forecast for parts of the South Island and Central North Island overnight and on Wednesday - just days after bad weather caused power outages and felled trees.

MetService issued a severe weather watch for Southland, Canterbury, Westland, Marlborough, Wellington, and Wairarapa.

A spokesman said an active front over the Tasman would move over the South Island, then over the rest of the country on Wednesday.

The front was expected to bring heavy rain and gusts up to 140 kilometres an hour in the Canterbury High Country.