School holidays are off to a dry start but best plan for indoor activities with rain, gales and snow due to hit the country midweek. The upper South Island and lower North Island would be pounded by potentially damaging northerly gales on Wednesday and Thursday. The front was also expected to bring heavy rain to both islands stretching from Port Waikato through to Kapiti Coast in the North Island and the west coast of the South Island. This latest wintry blast would bring heavy rain to western regions in both islands, strong winds to central New Zealand and snow to the southern-most regions over Wednesday and Thursday. Adams said the front was forecast to cross the South Island on Wednesday and make its way over the remainder of the country on Thursday.

Source: New Zealand Herald July 10, 2016 19:30 UTC