Blustery winds will blast Auckland and most of the North Island this afternoon along with another band of rain, forecasters say.
"Some pretty strong winds have already started to build in Auckland," WeatherWatch.co.nz analyst Philip Duncan said.
"We're expecting them to peak this afternoon and be pretty blustery for the next 36 hours."
MetService has issued a severe weather warning of blustery westerlies for much of the North Island and central New Zealand with severe gales for central Hawkes Bay and the Tararua District.
Mr Duncan said gusts would peak at 90kmh this afternoon.
"Showers are now moving into Auckland and at the same time the strongest winds are coming in as well," he said.
More blustery weather is forecasted for tomorrow but conditions are expected to ease in Auckland by tomorrow night.
The Labour Day long weekend is expected to start with pleasant weather on Saturday - unless you live on the West Coast, where residents are being told to watch for heavy rain warnings, or Southland and Otago where a cold blast may bring sleet.
The rest of the country would be mostly dry and slightly warmer, Mr Duncan said.
Some rain might arrive on the North Island's west coast on Saturday night.
The cold snap spreads across the South Island on Sunday while the forecast for the North Island can expect more rain.
Early forecasts for Labour Day Monday predict strong winds and rain.
- Kieran Campbell of APNZ
