Coastal Weather

Issued at 10:38 on Wednesday 17 December 2025.

Abel

Wednesday 17 December

Northeast 15 knots, easing to variable 10 knots late evening. Sea slight. Poor visibility in showers from afternoon, with possible thunderstorms and hail.

Thursday 18 December

Variable 10 knots. Northwest 20 knots developing north of Separation Point in the morning. Sea becoming moderate in the north.

Friday 19 December

Westerly 15 knots, rising to 25 knots north of Separation Point in the morning. Becoming northwest 25 knots everywhere in the afternoon. Sea becoming rough.

Saturday 20 December

Westerly 20 knots, easing to 10 knots early, rising to 20 knots later.

Sunday 21 December

Westerly 20 knots, turning southeast 15 knots south of Separation Point later.

Brett

Wednesday 17 December

Southwest 15 knots. Sea slight.

Thursday 18 December

Southwest 10 knots. Sea slight.

Friday 19 December

Southwest 10 knots, rising to westerly 20 knots in the morning.

Saturday 20 December

Westerly 25 knots, easing to southwest 15 knots later. Rough sea easing.

Sunday 21 December

Southwest 15 knots.

Castlepoint

Weather warning: Gale warning

Wednesday 17 December

Southwest 25 knots but 35 knots south of Cape Palliser. Becoming southwest 35 knots everywhere in the afternoon, easing to 25 knots late evening. Sea becoming very rough everywhere for a time. Long period southwest swell rising to 3 metres. Poor visibility in showers, with possible thunderstorms and hail.

Thursday 18 December

Southwest 25 knots, easing to 15 knots mid morning. Becoming variable 10 knots about midday. Northwest 25 knots developing in the evening. Rough sea easing for a time. Long period southwest swell 3 metres, easing.

Friday 19 December

Northwest rising to 30 knots in the morning. Becoming northwest 25 knots but southwest 30 knots south of Cape Palliser in the evening. Sea rough.

Saturday 20 December

Northwest 25 knots but southwest 30 knots south of Cape Palliser. Sea rough. Southwest swell becoming moderate.

Sunday 21 December

Becoming southwest 25 knots everywhere early, easing to 15 knots late. Rough sea easing. Southerly swell becoming heavy.

Chalmers

Wednesday 17 December

Southwest 15 knots, easing to variable 10 knots in the afternoon. Sea slight. Long period southwest swell 2 metres offshore.

Thursday 18 December

Variable 10 knots. Northerly 15 knots developing in the afternoon. Sea slight. Long period southwest swell 2 metres offshore, easing. Poor visibility in rain from evening.

Friday 19 December

Northeast 10 knots, rising to northerly 20 knots in the morning. Changing southwest 25 knots in the afternoon. Sea becoming rough. Moderate southwest swell developing.

Saturday 20 December

Southwest 30 knots. Sea rough. Moderate southwest swell.

Sunday 21 December

Southwest 30 knots. Sea rough. Southerly swell becoming heavy for a time.

Chatham Islands

Wednesday 17 December

Northerly 25 knots, easing to 15 knots in the evening. Rough sea easing. Long period southwest swell 2 metres. Northwest swell 2 metres. Few showers, then poor visibility in rain developing afternoon.

Thursday 18 December

Northerly 15 knots. Changing westerly 15 knots late evening. Sea slight. Long period southwest swell 2 metres. Northwest swell 2 metres, easing. Poor visibility in early rain.

Friday 19 December

Westerly 10 knots, becoming northerly 20 knots in the afternoon. Moderate southwest swell easing.

Saturday 20 December

Northerly 20 knots, becoming westerly 20 knots early. Northwest swell becoming moderate.

Sunday 21 December

Westerly 20 knots, rising to northwest 30 knots early. Sea becoming rough. Northwest swell becoming heavy.

Colville

Wednesday 17 December

Southwest 20 knots. Sea moderate. Fair visibility in morning showers.

Thursday 18 December

Westerly 15 knots. Sea slight.

Friday 19 December

Westerly 20 knots.

Saturday 20 December

Northwest 25 knots, turning southwest 20 knots early. Rough sea easing.

Sunday 21 December

Southwest 20 knots, easing to 10 knots late.

Conway

Weather warning: Gale warning

Wednesday 17 December

Southwest 35 knots, easing to 25 knots in the evening. Very rough sea easing. Long period southwest swell 3 metres offshore, easing. Poor visibility in rain, clearing evening.

Thursday 18 December

Southwest 25 knots, easing to 15 knots in the morning. Becoming variable 10 knots everywhere in the morning. Northerly 15 knots developing in the evening. Rough sea easing. Long period southwest swell 2 metres offshore, easing.

Friday 19 December

Northerly 15 knots, rising to 25 knots in the morning. Changing southwest 30 knots in the evening. Sea becoming rough. Moderate southwest swell developing.

Saturday 20 December

Southwest 30 knots. Sea rough. Moderate southerly swell.

Sunday 21 December

Southwest 30 knots, easing to 20 knots later. Rough sea easing. Southerly swell becoming heavy.

Cook

Weather warning: Gale warning

Wednesday 17 December

Southerly 25 knots, rising to 35 knots for a time in the afternoon and evening. Sea becoming very rough for a time. Southerly swell rising to 2 metres. Poor visibility in showers. Possible thunderstorms with hail, clearing by evening.

Thursday 18 December

Southwest 25 knots, easing to variable 10 knots before dawn. Northerly 15 knots developing morning, rising to 25 knots in the evening. Rough sea easing for a time. Southerly swell 2 metres, easing.

Friday 19 December

Northwest rising to 30 knots in the morning. Becoming westerly 20 knots but southerly 30 knots south of Cape Terawhiti in the evening. Sea becoming rough.

Saturday 20 December

Southwest 25 knots but southerly 35 knots south of Cape Terawhiti. Sea very rough in the south. Southerly swell becoming moderate.

Sunday 21 December

Easing to southerly 15 knots everywhere early. Very rough sea in the south easing. Moderate southerly swell.

Foveaux

Weather warning: Gale warning

Wednesday 17 December

Westerly 15 knots, rising to 25 knots about Foveaux Strait late afternoon. Sea becoming rough about the Strait. Long period southwest swell 3 metres offshore. Fair visibility in evening showers.

Thursday 18 December

Northwest 15 knots but 25 knots about Foveaux Strait. Rising to 25 knots but 35 knots about the channel in the afternoon. Changing to southerly 15 knots south of Stewart Island late evening. Sea becoming very rough about Foveaux Strait for a time. Long period southwest swell 3 metres offshore, easing. Poor visibility in rain from afternoon.

Friday 19 December

Southerly 15 knots, rising to southwest 25 knots in the morning. Sea becoming rough. Moderate southwest swell.

Saturday 20 December

Southwest 25 knots, easing to 15 knots west of Slope Point to Shelter Point late. Sea rough, easing in the west. Moderate southwest swell.

Sunday 21 December

Becoming southeast 25 knots but southwest 25 knots east of Slope Point to Shelter Point early. Sea becoming rough. Moderate southerly swell.

Grey

Wednesday 17 December

Southwest 25 knots, easing to 15 knots north of Abut Head in the evening. Rough sea easing in the north. Long period southwest swell 4 metres easing.

Thursday 18 December

Southwest 25 knots but 15 knots north of Abut Head. Easing to southwest 15 knots everywhere in the morning. Turning northwest 15 knots in the evening. Rough sea in the south, easing. Long period southwest swell 3 metres, easing. Fair visibility in showers from evening, south of Abut Head.

Friday 19 December

Westerly 10 knots, rising to northwest 20 knots in the morning. Becoming southwest 30 knots in the afternoon. Sea becoming rough. Moderate westerly swell.

Saturday 20 December

Southwest 30 knots. Sea rough. Moderate southwest swell.

Sunday 21 December

Southwest 25 knots, easing to 15 knots later. Rough sea easing. Moderate southwest swell.

Kaipara

Wednesday 17 December

Southwest 25 knots, easing back to 15 knots in the afternoon. Rough sea easing. Long period southwest swell 4 metres, easing. Fair visibility in showers.

Thursday 18 December

Westerly 15 knots. Sea slight. Long period southwest swell 3 metres, easing.

Friday 19 December

Southwest 10 knots, rising to westerly 20 knots in the morning. Moderate southwest swell.

Saturday 20 December

Westerly 25 knots, easing to southwest 15 knots later. Rough sea easing. Moderate southwest swell.

Sunday 21 December

Southwest 15 knots. Moderate southwest swell.

Milford

Wednesday 17 December

Southwest 20 knots. Sea moderate. Long period westerly swell 4 metres easing.

Thursday 18 December

Southwest 20 knots, turning northwest 15 knots late morning. Moderate sea easing. Long period southwest swell 3 metres, easing. Poor visibility in rain from afternoon.

Friday 19 December

Northwest 20 knots, turning southwest 25 knots in the morning, rising to 35 knots in the afternoon. Sea becoming very rough. Moderate southwest swell.

Saturday 20 December

Southwest 30 knots. Sea rough. Moderate southwest swell.

Sunday 21 December

Southwest 25 knots, easing to 10 knots late. Rough sea easing. Moderate southwest swell.

Plenty

Wednesday 17 December

Westerly 20 knots. Sea moderate. Fair visibility in showers from afternoon. Possible thunderstorms from afternoon.

Thursday 18 December

Westerly 15 knots. Sea slight.

Friday 19 December

Westerly 15 knots, rising to 25 knots in the morning. Sea becoming rough.

Saturday 20 December

Westerly 25 knots. Sea rough. Northwest swell becoming moderate.

Sunday 21 December

Westerly 20 knots. Moderate northwest swell easing.

Portland

Wednesday 17 December

Variable 10 knots, but westerly 20 knots about East Cape. Becoming southerly 15 knots but southwest 15 knots south of East Cape early evening. Southwest rising to 25 knots south of Mahia Peninsula late evening. Sea becoming rough in the south. Northeast swell 1 metre. Long period southwest swell 1 metre. Poor visibility in periods of rain. Possible thunderstorms from afternoon.

Thursday 18 December

Becoming southwest 25 knots everywhere early morning. Becoming variable 10 knots but southwest 15 knots offshore in the morning. Changing northwest 20 knots in the evening. Rough sea easing. Long period southwest swell rising to 3 metres for a time. Northeast swell 1 metre, easing. Fair visibility in afternoon and evening showers. Possible thunderstorms north of Mahia Peninsula from afternoon.

Friday 19 December

Northwest 15 knots, rising to westerly 25 knots north of East Cape in the morning. Becoming northwest 25 knots everywhere in the afternoon. Sea becoming rough. Moderate northwest swell north of East Cape.

Saturday 20 December

Northwest 25 knots, becoming southerly 20 knots but westerly 25 knots north of East Cape early. Rough sea easing in the south. South of East Cape: Southerly swell becoming moderate. North of East Cape: Moderate northwest swell.

Sunday 21 December

Becoming southwest 25 knots everywhere early, becoming variable 10 knots but westerly 20 knots in the north later. Rough sea easing. Moderate southerly swell, but moderate northwest swell north of East Cape, becoming moderate southwest swell everywhere.

Puysegur

Wednesday 17 December

Westerly 15 knots, rising to northwest 25 knots south of West Cape in the afternoon. Sea becoming rough in the south. Long period westerly swell 4 metres easing. Fair visibility in showers.

Thursday 18 December

Northwest 20 knots but 30 knots south of West Cape. Turning southwest 20 knots south of Stewart Island late evening. Sea rough in the south, easing. Long period southwest swell 3 metres. Poor visibility in rain from afternoon.

Friday 19 December

Southwest 15 knots but northwest 20 knots west of West Cape. Rising to southwest 25 knots everywhere in the morning. Sea becoming rough. Moderate southwest swell.

Saturday 20 December

Southwest 25 knots. Sea rough. Southwest swell becoming heavy for a time.

Sunday 21 December

Southerly 20 knots. Moderate southwest swell.

Raglan

Wednesday 17 December

Southwest 25 knots, easing to 15 knots late evening. Rough sea easing. Long period southwest swell 4 metres, easing. Poor visibility in showers, with possible thunderstorms and hail, easing evening.

Thursday 18 December

Westerly 15 knots. Sea slight. Long period southwest swell 3 metres, easing.

Friday 19 December

Westerly 15 knots, rising to 25 knots in the morning. Sea becoming rough. Moderate westerly swell.

Saturday 20 December

Southwest 25 knots. Sea rough. Moderate southwest swell.

Sunday 21 December

Southwest 20 knots. Moderate southwest swell.

Rangitata

Wednesday 17 December

Southwest 25 knots, easing to 15 knots in the evening. Rough sea easing. Long period southwest swell 2 metres offshore. Poor visibility in rain, clearing in the afternoon.

Thursday 18 December

Southwest 10 knots, changing northeast 15 knots in the afternoon. Turning northwest 15 knots inshore in the evening. Sea slight. Long period southwest swell 2 metres offshore, easing.

Friday 19 December

Northerly 15 knots, becoming northerly 20 knots but 35 knots inshore in the morning. Becoming southwest 30 knots everywhere in the afternoon. Sea becoming very rough inshore for a time. Moderate southwest swell developing.

Saturday 20 December

Southwest 30 knots. Sea rough. Moderate southwest swell.

Sunday 21 December

Southwest 30 knots, easing to 20 knots late. Rough sea easing. Moderate southerly swell.

Stephens

Wednesday 17 December

Southwest 25 knots, changing to southeast 20 knots east of Farewell Spit to Hawera this afternoon, then easing to southwest 15 knots but variable 10 knots in the east in the evening. Rough sea easing in the east. West of Farewell Spit to Hawera: Long period southwest swell 4 metres, easing. East of Farewell Spit to Hawera: Westerly swell 2 metres. Poor visibility in showers, with possible thunderstorms and hail, easing evening.

Thursday 18 December

Southwest 15 knots but variable 10 knots east of Farewell Spit to Hawera. Becoming westerly 20 knots everywhere in the morning. Sea becoming moderate. West of Farewell Spit to Hawera: Long period southwest swell 3 metres, easing. East of Farewell Spit to Hawera: Westerly swell 2 metres, easing.

Friday 19 December

Westerly 20 knots, rising to northwest 30 knots in the morning. Sea becoming rough. Moderate westerly swell.

Saturday 20 December

Westerly 30 knots, easing to southwest 20 knots late. Rough sea easing. Moderate westerly swell.

Sunday 21 December

Westerly 20 knots. Moderate westerly swell.

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