The sun rises over the Treaty Grounds in Waitangi on Waitangi Day 2024. Photo: RNZ
It's set to be hot summer day for the thousands gathered at the Treaty Grounds to commemorate Waitangi Day on Tuesday.
Most of the rest of the country could expect a fine day with high temperatures, especially through Canterbury, Auckland and Northland.
But not everyone was so lucky.
With a forecast high in the mid-20s with light winds and sea breezes, Waitangi promised a true Northland summer for those gathered there.
People queue for coffee at the Treaty Grounds in Waitangi. Photo: RNZ
However in the South Island, the Metservice issued a Heavy Rain Warning for Fiordland through until Wednesday morning, with peak rainfall of up to 20mm/hour.
It warned rivers and streams could rise rapidly and there could be flooding or slips.
Heavy Rain Watches were also in place for Southland south of Lumsden and Gore from Tuesday afternoon and for Westland south of Franz Josef from the evening.