Settled weather for most through to Anzac Day
New Zealanders will enjoy a mainly dry and warm weekend in the run- up to Anzac Day commemorations on Tuesday even as another sub- tropical storm looms off the coast of the North Island.
Niwa said the large storm was expected to develop and swirl to the northeast of the country this weekend and into next week.
Those on the east coast were being told to brace for giant 4- metre waves.
MetService forecaster Cameron Coutts said at this stage it was a bit far out to get a good handle on where the storm was going to track.
“Our models show it moving off to the east of the North Island, and it certainly will generate some swell,” said Coutts.
But it was unlikely to bring destructive levels of wind and rain to storm- weary regions and no watches or warnings had been issued.
Instead, the fine weather we have been enjoying was expected to continue across the country and into the early part of next week, Coutts said.
“The high pressure system we have been experiencing will dominate so we are in for a nice few days,” Coutts said.
From Waikato to Wellington and Wairarapa, including Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Taumarunui and Taihape, it will be mainly sunny today despite areas of morning cloud or fog.
“The temperatures over the weekend and into Anzac Day should be in the late teens to early 20s in the North Island,” Coutts said. “It will be a little bit cooler in the south.”
Clear skies, however, mean temperatures will drop in the evenings in most places.
“The nights are getting longer and temperatures will dip to between 10 and 15 degrees in Auckland and Northland. In Canterbury and Masterton it will drop to single digits.”
On Sunday there will be isolated showers northwards of Auckland and about East Cape, otherwise it will be mainly fine. In the South Island, rain is expected in the far south, with a few showers in Westland and Buller.
Come Monday showers will develop in the east and in Wellington. It also distressed when he saw the hotel plans.
“When we bought this property off the plans in 1998 there was nothing here but there was a crane,” Anandaraja said.
“I got them to take me up as high as they could go and I just fell in love with the view and we put our down payment on the apartment that day.”
His wife, Dr Rohini Anandaraja, said the view was amazing at night.
“With all of the beautiful lights on the water it is a fairyland.”
The proposed hotel would be front and centre of their view, they said.
“It looks to be a twin tower monstrosity that breaks all of the rules.”
Last month Viaduct Harbour Holdings Ltd revealed its plans to build the five- star hotel with signature eateries and a roof- top bar.
To be built at the renamed “One Market Square” the proposed hotel, designed by renowned architectural firm Warren and Mahoney, would will be mainly fine elsewhere, but again there could be isolated showers from Auckland northwards.
In the South Island, rain will develop in the far south. Elsewhere, there will be a few showers in the west with scattered showers developing in the east, but it will remain dry in Nelson and inland Marlborough.
On Anzac Day it will be mainly fine across the country, with i solated showers in Northland and Gisborne. In the South Island, a few showers are expected in Buller and rain will develop in Westland and Fiordland. face the sea on two sides.
When told of the opposition to the hotel, Viaduct Harbour Holdings chief executive Angela Bull said it was only early stages.
“The world- class waterfront hotel at One Market Square is a proposal only at this stage and, like any proposed development, will be subject to the usual council consenting process,” she said.
“Auckland desperately needs more hotels, with the government estimating an extra 4300 rooms are needed for the city to keep up with demand from New Zealand’s ongoing tourism boom.
“A five- star luxury hotel is not only appropriate for the site, but will bring significant economic benefits to the Viaduct Harbour area and the wider Auckland region.”
Auckland Council confirmed the height restriction in the area was 16.5m. A spokesperson said there had been no applications for the site.