Start on small features and retreat to mellower terrain if you find signs of instability.
Watch for changing conditions, storm slabs will get deeper and more reactive through the day.
New snow is making human triggered avalanches likely. The new snow will be most unstable where you find the deepest deposits, or where it is dense and moist, and not sticking well to the old, hard surface.
Snowfall amounts above treeline will vary across the forecast area, 7 to 15 cm for the east and south island, 25-30 cm for the north island, and as much as 50 cm on the west island. Through the day, snow will turn to rain around treeline, making the surface snow shallower, denser, and wetter. At high elevations, the new snow covers a hard, frozen crust.
Below the crust, the rest of the snowpack is generally settled and well-bonded.
Below treeline, the snow is moist or wet and slopes are largely below the threshold for avalanches.
No recent avalanches have been reported.
If you are getting out in the backcountry, consider making a post on the MIN (Mountain Information Network).
Sunday Night
Cloudy. Generally 2 to 5 cm of snow expected above 750 m, with 8 to 15 cm on the west island. Strong southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -2 °C.
Monday
Cloudy. Light to moderate rain, generally 5 to 10 cm of snow expected above 1200 m, with 20 to 35 cm on the north and west island. Strong southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high around 0 °C
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. Light rain, generally 0 to 5 cm of snow expected above 1200 m, with up to 10 cm on the south island. Moderate to strong southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high around 0 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. No new snow/rain expected. Light southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high around 1 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
