Unreal hot air
OPINION: The Hound is perplexed about some of the over-the-top climate catastrophising by mainstream media outlets during the holidays.
Waikato region residents are being urged to exercise caution on the roads, be aware of the potential for flooding hazards and move stock to higher ground where necessary.
Ex-tropical Cyclone Cook is continuing to head towards New Zealand. It is currently tracking further west than what was projected yesterday.
This means that it may affect the Waikato region more than predicted yesterday, says Waikato Regional Council hazards team leader Rick Liefting.
“We urge people to stay up to date with weather warnings and take precautions to protect themselves, their families, pets and property if the situation deteriorates markedly.”
The following heavy rain and severe wind warnings are in place across the region:
- Coromandel Peninsula: 150 to 250 millimetres of rain is possible in 39 hours from 9am Wednesday to midnight Thursday; and wind of up to 150km/hour or more possible from Thursday afternoon with large waves of 5 metres or more on the eastern Coromandel coast.
- Taupo: 150 to 250 mm in 39 hours from 9am Wednesday to midnight Thursday; and wind of up to 150km/hour or more possible from Thursday afternoon until early Friday.
- Waikato and Waitomo: 100 to 150 mm in 33 hours from midday today to 9pm Thursday; and wind of up to 140km/hour or more possible from Thursday afternoon until midnight Friday.
On the Coromandel Peninsula there is potential for further slips and flooding to occur and debris flows during periods of high intensity rainfall. These could lead to road closures. See the NZ Transport Agency website for updates.
Extreme care should be taken around at high tide times on the eastern Coromandel coast (approximately 0836 and 2100 Thursday and 0916 and 2141 Friday). Care should also be taken on the Firth of Thames coast.
Meanwhile, Lake Taupo’s level and the Waikato River system are being closely monitored by the regional hazards team and Mercury.
Property owners at Taupo should be aware the lake is expected to rise approximately another half a metre from current levels over this week based on the latest forecasts.
The hazards team and the council’s flood response team are monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates as required.
Federated Farmers claims that the Otago Regional Council is charging ahead unnecessarily with piling more regulation on rural communities.
Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.
OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.
Listed Canterbury milk processor Synlait’s shares have been placed in a trading halt.
OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.
A step-by-step guide helping farmers through the process of creating a Freshwater Farm Plan (FWFP) has been launched by FarmIQ.