A computer‐based model for forecasting ocean waves in the Southwest Pacific is described. The grid, which represents the sea surface for this model, covers a section of that used in the operational atmospheric analysis and prediction models of the New Zealand Meteorological Service. At each grid point a discrete directional power spectrum is defined. Each component represents an energy density (in frequency and direction) and is treated independently of the others. Propagation of wave energy is effected by a Lax‐Wendroff‐type finite differencing scheme with appropriate modifications near coastlines and grid boundaries. Wave generation and dissipation are calculated using an empirically derived exponential formula. Some examples of results are presented and the hindcasts for selected weather events are discussed. Comparisons between results and visual observations of significant wave height are not very promising but much of the discrepency can be attributed to the scatter of the latter. Some comparisons at the ‘Maui‐A’ site between results from the model and measurements from a waverider buoy show reasonable correlation between significant wave height records. However, this site poses particular problems which are beyond the scope of this type of model.