Weather back to normal?
MetService meteorologist James Millward says the country’s weather patterns are now on a much more even footing.
El Nino seems to be setting farmers up for a cold spring, according to MetService.
Meteorologist Georgina Griffiths says September will likely bring more storms with winds from west south-west and lower pressures over the country. MetService predicted a cold August and that has materialised.
Griffiths told Rural News the temperatures over the past few months have been a shock and it’s been a long time since New Zealand has had a winter like this temperature-wise.
“It’s probably been about five years since we have had temperatures like this in the North Island. In the South Island June was patchy and the temperatures swung; it was bitterly cold with snow in late April and May and into the start of June.
“July was cold again for the South Island. We had a very high incidence of frosts in the North Island and in much of the South Island.”
Griffiths says rainfall-wise it’s been mixed with parts of Canterbury only recently getting its first good rain in a long time. It’s been sopping wet in Otago Southland, and Manawatu has also had a rough time with heavy rain. Northern regions have been relatively dry though sometimes patchy.
Overall it’s been dry in the east and wet in western regions.
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
World Veterinary Day falls on Saturday 27 April.
The Director General of MPI, Ray Smith says it's important for his department to celebrate the success of a whole range of groups and people around the country.
A small company which mobilised veterinarians around the country to deal with Mycoplasma bovis was one of the winners in this year's Biosecurity Awards, held at Parliament.
One of the country's top Māori sheep and beef farms is facing a five-year battle to get back to where it was before Cyclone Gabrielle struck just over 14 months ago.
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