Temperatures into the 30s will hit parts of New Zealand today as air that brought record heat to Australia crosses the Tasman.
At the top of the South Island, Blenheim is set to bake today in 35C and Christchurch will sizzle in 30C.
In the North Island the east coast cities of Hastings and Gisborne are forecast to reach 32C and 30C respectively.
MetService is predicting many areas, especially in the east, will see consecutive 30C days from today through to the end of the working week.
Other maximum temperatures expected in parts of the North Island today will be 25C in Auckland and Hamilton, 26C in Thames and 27C in Whāngārei.
In the South Island, Alexandra looks set for 32C, Queenstown 28C, while Dunedin escapes with a much cooler 22C.
MetService meteorologist Ravi Kandula said: "Essentially, a lot of the heat is going to be confined to the South Island, central parts of Otago - high 20s to the low 30s - Blenheim and Kaikōura.
"In the North Island, eastern parts - Gisborne, Napier, Hastings and Masterton. Those areas are going to get a drop in north-west wind and are going to get warm."
However, not all areas will be bathed in sun. MetService has issued a heavy rain warning for Fiordland northwards of Doubtful Sound, and heavy rain watches for Westland and Clutha and Southland.
The forecaster says heavy rain in Fiordland and South Westland eased early this morning, but a second front is forecast to bring another burst of heavy rain to southern New Zealand tonight and early Monday morning.
The heavy rain watch for Clutha and Southland was valid for 12 hours from 8pm on Sunday.
