While the likes of Auckland (heavy rain, thunder, strong northeasterlies), Wellington (rain, light winds) and Christchurch (low cloud) face a dreary meteorological yuletide, the sun is forecast to shine bright across Otago and Southland.
The South will be the place to be.
Wanaka tops the predicted temperatures for the day with 30degC, while Alexandra and Queenstown will enjoy 29degC and 28degC respectively.
No southern centre will have a high lower than 20degC, the forecast says.
MetService duty forecaster Larissa Marintchenko said the north would welcome a complex low pressure weather system with a front on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
In contrast, most of the South Island would be under a ridge of high pressure, and ''pretty much fine weather''.
Warm weather may drag some afternoon showers towards Alexandra, but those would be isolated.
Boxing Day would be similar, having morning cloud by the coast but mainly fine inland, although slightly cooler due to a southwesterly wind.
Niwa's long-term forecast for the rest of summer is for near or above average temperatures and near normal rainfall.
