A mixed weather outlook for the final day of the year

Heavy rain could be making a return on the east coast of the North Island - after briefly subsiding overnight.

MetService has issued watches for the Wairoa District and Tairawhiti until about 10 tonight - and says thunderstorms could be on the cards.

There's also watches in Hawkes Bay, Tararua and the Wairarapa until six tonight.

But Metereologist Ngaire Wotherspoon says the west of the South Island is probably the best place to be.

She says it shouldn't be too bad in places like Auckland, just a bit windy - and that should ease off going into the evening.