The land of the long white cloud is living up to its name with cloud stretching across the country bringing widespread rain. A broad complex low pressure system was sitting just to the west of New Zealand on Sunday, causing widespread rain in the North Island and upper South Island. Cloud was covering the entire nation in a blanket from north to south. The low was also directing strong-to-gale-force northerly winds along the coast and ranges of most of the nation. This system has already brought over 100mm of rain to parts of the upper South Island near Nelson. The town itself has gained around 20mm so far, but this system has the potential to bring a further 200mm to western parts of the region. The main low affecting New Zealand is currently approaching the South Island, bringing heavy rain from Northland to the Bay of Plenty and even parts of Cantebury. The lower South Island has been the driest so far as northerly winds have dried out over land. However they will get a dumping on Monday and early Tuesday as the low moves overhead, affecting Christchurch and Dunedin. This system is the same one that brought flooding rain to East Gippsland in Victoria in recent days. It will continue to direct showers into eastern Victoria and nearby areas until at least Tuesday while it drenches New Zealand and drives gale force winds. Parts of this complex low will continue to bring rain or showers to New Zealand until at least Friday. The widespread heavy rain will become more patchy over coming days, however different parts of New Zealand will have a turn in the intense rain and strong wind over coming days.