Dry weather classification expands to North Island
The dry weather in some parts of the North Island has received medium-scale adverse event classification from the Government.
The Waikato Regional Council says it hopes the forecast rain this week will ease pressure on low flows in the Waikato River.
"Besides being good news for farmers and others in need of rain, the wet conditions this week will hopefully be the start to a significant easing of low flow pressures," says the council's resource use group manager Chris McLay.
Councils, power companies, major water users, iwi, and health and civil defence officials have met to share information on their planning for lower flows in the Waikato River if drought conditions persist.
The parties have been developing their contingency plans to cover a range of scenarios and shared that information at a meeting convened by Waikato Reagional Council. Participants agreed to keep sharing information regularly on developments.
Under Mighty River Power's Lake Taupo resource consent, restrictions on water flowing out of the lake are imposed when its level hits 355.85m above sea level (compared to Wednesday's level 17cm higher at 356.02m above sea level).
To help slow Lake Taupo's decline to 355.85m above sea level Mighty River Power has reduced the minimum current flow from Karapiro from 148 cubic metres a second (cumecs) to 140cumecs within the process allowed by their resource consent.
But, once the 355.85m above sea level is reached, restrictions mean that the water released from the Karapiro dam must not exceed inflows into Lake Taupo and the Waikato River hydro- electricity system, putting Lower Waikato River flows back to what they would have been without hydro operations in place.
Under the restrictions, it is estimated the amount of water coming from Karapiro would be reduced from 140cumecs to between 70 cumecs and 120 cumecs. This would result in a further drop in river levels in the Lower Waikato River.
Most of the bigger water takes from the Waikato River are below Karapiro. So councils and industries using water from the river downstream of Karapiro are required to take the risk into account in their contingency planning.
It was felt last week that Lake Taupo could possibly reach the 355.85m above sea level mark by early next month if there was no significant rain before then.
"It is heartening to see the rain being forecast this week but the major water users are planning for a worst case scenario just in case," says McLay.
"Parties at the meeting are confident they had the appropriate plans in place to cope if Lake Taupo hits the 355.85m above sea level point," says McLay.
"We have all committed to working closely together and sharing information so that we are collectively well-placed to respond to any problems."
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.
OPINION: The new government has clearly signalled big cuts across the public service.
OPINION: Your canine crusader is not surprised by the recent news that New Zealand plant-based ‘fake meat’ business is in…