Heat alerts are on the way for northern and eastern parts of the country, with Fire and Emergency New Zealand warning of an “extreme fire danger” day in Canterbury as the week ends on a scorching note.  “We are expecting an extreme fire danger day on Sunday here in Canterbury. We are getting our ducks in a row for this at the moment,” a Fire and Emergency spokeswoman said.  All fire permits in the Canterbury Fire District were suspended from 11.59pm tomorrow until 8am on Monday, she said.  “No fires are to be lit this weekend. People should check all old burn piles [and] avoid doing any hot/sparks works like mowing lawns, until the cooler part of the day like early morning.  “If you see any smoke or flames call 111 immediately. We are obviously not the only district to be hit with this heatwave, so [this is] valid for all areas."  People enjoying sunset at West Auckland's Bethells Beach Te Henga last night. A hot weekend is forecast across much of northern and eastern New Zealand. Photo / Michael Craig  The hottest temperatures are expected in Hawke’s Bay on Sunday, with 37C forecast for Hastings, 35C for neighbouring Napier and strong northwesterly winds for both, along with fellow heat-targets Marlborough and Canterbury.  The Sunday scorcher in Hawke’s Bay would follow 30C+ temperatures tomorrow and Saturday for both cities, and on varying days across a swathe of locations from Northland to Canterbury.  Heat alerts, which are based on individual threshholds for each centre, are usually issued the day before, MetService meteorologist Clare O’Connor said this morning.  They’re likely to be issued for hot weather expected in Whakatāne, Napier and Hastings tomorrow, and possibly Blenheim and Kaikōura.  ️ Hot temperatures will be arriving later this week, especially in parts of the North Island.⬇️ The images below show where there's a chance for temperatures 30°C or higher. ? Particularly hot temperatures at least in the mid-30s are signalled for Hawke's Bay this weekend. pic.twitter.com/H964kQDqwO— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) January 7, 2026 Heat alerts are also likely for Tauranga, Whakatāne, Gisborne, Napier, Hastings and Blenheim on Saturday, with a 31C forecast high in Kerikeri also potentially putting it in the mix, O’Connor said.  “That’s pretty hot for Northland.”  Those at risk of heat alerts on Sunday - expected to be the hottest day for most across the country - were Napier, Hastings, Gisborne, Whangārei, Kerikeri and possibly Tauranga, she said.  “Sunday’s when the majory of the hot air arrives and makes it up north.”  Other areas, including Auckland, Waikato, Rotorua/Taupō, Wairarapa, Nelson and South Canterbury, aren’t tipped to reach 30C during the hot spell but it’ll still be a warm day with highs in the mid-to-late 20s this weekend.  “[It will be] 28C, 29C”, MetService forecaster Braydon White said of Auckland’s expected high on Sunday.  “Getting near 30C is pretty impressive for Auckland.”  However, several spots would breeze past that number, with MetService heat alerts expected to be issued.  Those forecast to join the 30C or more club at some point over the next three days include Whangārei (31C on Sunday), Tauranga (30C on Saturday and Sunday), Whakatāne (30C tomorrow and Saturday), Kaikōura (30C on Sunday), Christchurch (31C Friday and Sunday).  But it’s the east that will experience the most sustained heat – and threatening winds.  Gisborne is forecast to reach 30C tomorrow and 32C on Saturday and Sunday, and Blenheim 32C, 31C and 30C over the next three days – with northwesterly gales with gales of more than 100km/h expected in Marlborough and Canterbury on Sunday, O’Connor said.  Severe gales were also expected in inland Canterbury, Otago, Southland, Wellington and Wairarapa on Saturday.  Hawke’s Bay – where the hottest temperatures are forecast – was like...