State’s close watch on dry regions

Guy earlier this month declared Northland a medium scale drought area.

Also under watch are Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Bay of Plenty, North Waikato, Wairarapa and North Canterbury.

Hawkes Bay had a regular climate briefing recently, Guy told Dairy News. Comments he heard back were “yes it was a generally dry summer but they are generally coping”.

“The group agreed the region is not near the threshold to deem it a drought as they are coping and have options available to them,” he says.

The Gisborne group is meeting this week.

“We are keeping a close watching eye on those as areas of some concern and we are keeping a close eye on parts of Wairarapa, Bay of Plenty and obviously with North Canterbury recovering they are dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake as well, so we are keeping in touch with that community.

“Northern Waikato is also of concern; parts of that are very dry.”

Northland is very dry, he says.

In 2013 the west coast of Northland was affected. This one is more prolific on the East Coast, although it is drying out in the west also now. Soil moisture deficits are about 110ml across Northland, “so that is a real concern”.

The Rural Support Trust, councils, Fonterra and Beef + Lamb NZ worked with NIWA and MPI to look at the science and the forecasting.

“As a group they collectively decided to seek some government support. MPI appraises that, puts a recommendation to me and that met the medium scale adverse drought event criteria,” he says.

With that declaration the focus will be on the coordination role by the Rural Support Trust, rural assistance payments for farmers in hardship and taxation flexibility through IRD.

“Some of the banks have come on board with a package deal to support farmers through,” he says.

“The Rural Support Trust will be watching closely the mental wellness aspect; we have put more money into that -- $1.1m in the last couple of years -- to make sure we are working constructively with the Ministry of Health, Rural Support Trusts and the Rural Health Alliance.

“There is a huge amount of work happening and farmers should realise they should pick up the phone and talk to their neighbours. Call 0800 RURAL HEALTH.