North Island now a drought zone
"Better get used to it. Looks like plenty more of this to come in the years ahead."
Featured commentA state of drought has been officially declared throughout the entire North Island by the Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy.
“Local groups have asked for regional declarations of drought in the past week, and it has become clear that nearly all farmers in every part of the North Island are facing very difficult dry conditions," he says in a statement.
“Extra government funding will now be available to rural support trusts who work closely with farmers, providing support and guidance."
There would also be rural assistance payments available from Work and Income, through the Ministry of Social Development. "These are equivalent to the unemployment benefit and are available to those in extreme hardship.
“Many rural people can be reluctant to ask for help, but it is important for them to know that support is available. This is a difficult time for rural families and they need to know that the government and all New Zealanders are behind them."
The declaration comes after Reserve Bank governor Graeme Wheeler warned yesterday if substantial rain does not arrive soon, the country could face a similar event as that in 2007-08, which shaved 1% from the economy.
The impact so far has reduced 0.2 to 0.3 of a percentage point from gross domestic product in the first half of this year, according to central bank forecasts.
Mr Guy says some rain is forecast this weekend.
"However, we will need more than this to help prepare for the winter and set up for next spring.
“Parts of the South Island are also very dry, in particular the Grey and Buller districts. We are keeping a close watch on all further regions.
“I’m very pleased with how communities have pulled together to help each other out. Federated Farmers have been operating a ‘Feedline’ to match farmers with feed supplies, which is receiving good interest.
“Beef + Lamb NZ, Dairy NZ, the Ministry for Primary Industries and others have also been providing practical support.
“Farmers should contact their accountants or the IRD if they need help or flexibility with making tax payments, and standard hardship assistance is available from Work and Income,” Mr Guy says.
Previously drought has been declared in Northland and North Auckland (February 27) and in the South Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay regions (March 6).
Additional reporting: BusinessDesk
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Comments and questions16
Better get used to it. Looks like plenty more of this to come in the years ahead. Two major droughts in five years - anyone like to venture a guess on why that is?
Or shall we wait until it's four major droughts in 10 years?
What are you, a modern day sooth-sayer?
Global warming effects are starting to accelerate.
Here we go... Good grief
Yeah, my son says it was -16°C last night in Hamburg.
But that is only weather - not climate. As far as I can see the difference between the two is that if it is hot then it is climate, and cold is weather.
Sometimes cold can become climate - but only if it is particularly disruptive.
And normality is nothing to be commented upon.
What about a similar government handout for those affected the incompetent government management of Solid Energy and Novopay, or the ex-prime minister's directorship of Mainzeal? Surely the government will blame external forces for their failings, as they certainly never accept responsibility themselves. Oh, those poor farmers. But at least their appreciation will see them repay in the good times. Yeah, right.
Or even the financial disaster caused by Labour when they paid almost a billion dollars for a broken train set.
And earthquakes and finance company disasters ... the govt. is on the hook for everything these days didn't you know? It is called socialism.
The rural 20% of NZ population produce 60% of GDP ... do you really want to do a true tally up to who owes who?
Biting the hand that feeds isn't wise in an socialist economy where everybody has their hands in each other's wallets.
What a field day a spell of dry weather gives the anti-global warming tree huggers. I am sure that human behaviour affects the environment, but common sense and not sensationalism will see us through.
'the anti-global warming tree huggers' - ?
You'll have to run that one past me again ... so does that mean you are a pro-global warming something or other?
In most other countries this is what would be considered a normal summer - a few months of continuous sunshine - and their farming practices plan for and manage that. To term what now have in NZ as a 'drought' is ridiculous. NZ should be happy if this is the first of more 'northern hemisphere' style summers to come, and our primary industries need to adapt to it.
Yes adaptation is all we need - just convert all that pasture in the North island into high quality Mediterranean-style agriculture - just think of all the money we can make from growing olives and thyme and rosemary and bare dry earth. Brilliant idea. Nothing to worry about at all.
The last similar drought reportedly was 30 years ago. So is this evidence droughts are increasing or decreasing?
Answers on the back of your IQ test result, please.
Dont worry AL, people will remember who the deniers were in years to come. Your name will be right up there.
Yet no-one will remember who you were when many billions has been flushed down the global warming rabbit hole of govt. waste ...