Thick smoke and dust drifting across the Tasman from Australia's bushfires, will darken our skies today

The hazy skies - a result of the 80 wildfires burning through rural New South Wales and Queensland - were visible in the South Island last night. It's as much of the country prepares for thunderstorms, high winds and heavy rain.

In Auckland, rain is due to worsen through the afternoon, likely putting in doubt the Twenty20 cricket series tie-breaker at Eden Park.

Rain has set in this morning in some areas with the Nelson Marlborough region seeing the worst of it. A heavy rain warning is in place for Nelson until midday.