Displaying items by tag: Drought

RECENT RAIN IN Waikato and South Auckland has set farmers on the road to recovery from the drought but the situation remains fragile for some, a meeting of farming leaders and central and local Government officials has heard.

AN AUCKLAND-BASED drystock farmer has been convicted and fined $45,000 for unlawfully taking water from a stream on his Waikato property over a three year period, including during last year's drought.

A LOCALISED drought has been declared in western parts of Northland by local authorities and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy says dry conditions in parts of Waikato and Northland remain a serious concern.

FARMERS IN need of autumnal rain are disappointed Cyclone Lusi has failed to deliver the rain goods. Despite being in a de facto state of drought there are no plans to call for an adverse events declaration.

THE WAIKATO Regional Council and stakeholders are discussing potential action if dry, drought-like conditions continue in parts of the Waikato and South Auckland.

DairyNZ is issuing summer dry messages to farmers and advising farmers to look after young stock.

PRIMARY INDUSTRIES Minister Nathan Guy says rural communities have bounced back strongly after this year's drought, with the official declaration ending today (September 30).

An MPI report has confirmed that the 2013 drought was the worst in nearly 70 years.

Gross domestic product (GDP) rose just 0.3% in the March 2013 quarter with effects of the drought kicking in.

The drought cost $1.3billion to June 30, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) says, in its Situation and Outlook report.