Fireworks in some city centres may be dampened Sunday night. Photo: AFP / NurPhoto
Wet weather is forecast for several parts of the country on New Year's Eve, while one community has cancelled some of its planned celebrations.
Heavy rain is on the cards for the west of the South Island, and an orange rain warning is in place for parts of the Westland ranges from midnight tonight.
MetService meteorologist John Law said showers could move over the Canterbury area too.
"We'll also find a band of rain sweeping across the North Island as we head into the afternoon and into the evening as well, so it's well worth keeping an eye on the forecast.
"One of the best spots looks like Nelson so we'll see that clearing away in the afternoon, and a good place to be to welcome in 2024."
Strong wind warnings have been issued for parts of Marlborough and Canterbury from early tomorrow morning.
The Marlborough Sounds, Wellington and parts of Wairarapa are under a wind warning from 7am.
️ More thunderstorms on the cards to see 2023 out.
— MetService (@MetService) December 29, 2023
Thunder, lightning, heavy rain and hail all possible for parts of New Zealand during Sunday.
Find the full forecast here https://t.co/grZ6Hp7uMi pic.twitter.com/WaWbgyDicC
Tauranga cancels New Year's events
Tauranga City Council said Saturday it has made the tough call to cancel its New Year's Eve community celebrations.
It said a heavy band of rain with possible thunderstorms and lightning is forecast to sweep through between 6 to 9.30pm, when events are due to take place at five locations.
The council said while it is disappointed to have to cancel, it plans to go ahead with firework displays between 9.30pm and midnight.
An update will be made Sunday if that plan changes due to weather conditions.
On Friday, the Love Your Ways Music Festival in Auckland was cancelled, with organisers saying they were "devastated" on social media, but "the event has been deemed unsafe to proceed."
Coromandel campers settle in for soggy time
Coromandel campers appear to be toughing it out for New Year's Eve despite heavy downpours last night and more rain forecast tomorrow.
Campers in Cooks Beach have shared video footage showing water pooling around tents and caravan awnings around 8pm Friday night.
Flaxmill Campground relief manager Chris Goldsbury said her campground is on higher ground but it was still very wet underfoot this morning.
"We had a very heavy downpour probably about 7.30, 8 o'clock? And noticed we had 40mm measured in the rain gauge this morning ... but no, everybody was happy, we didn't have any problems."
In Whitianga, Harbourside Holiday Park manager Jane Deadman said they are booked out for New Year's Eve and no one has cancelled.
Deadman said a couple of groups left early afternoon Friday thinking it was going to be worse than it was, but everyone else stayed on and enjoyed themselves.
