After a brutally cold start to winter for many regions the weather will be fairly autumn-like with mild, settled conditions kicking off the weekend.

Thursday marks the winter solstice in New Zealand.

The shortest day usual signals the start to the coldest weather, however WeatherWatch head weather analyst Philip Duncan says we may have already experienced some of the coldest weather this winter.

"June started off so aggressively cold that in some regions temperatures fell to about as low as they get even in the depths of winter," he says.

Wind chills were estimated to be -12C of even lower around Hokitika at the start of the month in a freak blast that killed 200 cattle.

Frosts of -2C have been reported in Northland and Auckland has had several frosts already, something more common in July or August for the city of sails.

Christchurch had record cold weather and snow has already fallen in the city on more than one day along with sleet and hail showers in other South Island centres.

Mr Duncan says the weather over the next few days will be fairly unsettled with another possible cold snap but a shortlived high will bring a more settled Friday and Saturday to most main centres.

"This Saturday looks fairly pleasant in the North Island and for eastern parts of the South Island although blustery winds may reach gale force in the east and around Wellington.

"Sunday looks wetter in the north and colder in the south," he says.

A cold blast next week may see snow again falling to near sea level - but it may be more confined to Southland and Otago than Canterbury.