It’s official: The Big Dry now drought
Govt allocates $50,000 in support for farmers, with no rain expected for a week
Northland’s big dry is hitting farmers hard and the Government declared a drought for all areas north of the Auckland’s Harbour Bridge. No rain is expected in the region until the middle of next week and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor made the call after advice from officials yesterday.
The Government has allocated $50,000 as support to farmers in the form of tax relief, emergency grants, and loss of income through a number of agencies.
“This is recognition that the extreme and prolonged nature of this dry spell is taking its toll on our farmers and growers and additional support is needed,” O’Connor said.
“We know they prepare for dry conditions in January and February, but these areas have been dry since November, on the back of much lower rainfall than normal through the whole of 2019.”
Forecasts issued yesterday showed rain bands finally hitting the upper North Island next Wednesday and lasting at least 24 hours.
O’Connor said despite challenges, most farmers and growers were coping “reasonably well”.
“People are making the hard decisions needed on culling stock, purchasing feed, prioritising crops, and switching to once-a-day milking.”
“We know that farmers and growers are used to managing through adverse weather events, but I’d encourage them to make use of the great support available. Droughts can be really tough, especially on new farmers with little previous experience to lean on.
“I’m continuing to keep a close eye on other areas across the country as dry conditions increase in much of the North Island, the top of the South Island, and northern Canterbury.”
ANZ, the country’s largest bank, also announced drought assistance package for Northland farmers yesterday.
The package will allow drought-hit farmers to:
● Apply for short-term funding to help manage unexpected costs
● Suspend or reducing loan principal repayments
● Escape fees associated with restructuring business loans.
“Farmers and the local economy are directly feeling the effects of the drought and the impact on dairy and meat production will be felt right
People are making the hard decisions needed on culling stock, purchasing feed, prioritising crops, and switching to oncea-day milking
Damien O’Connor
through the economy,” said ANZ’s Mark Hiddleston.
“However, with careful planning to manage the short-term effects, and recovery once the rain returns, there is no reason we shouldn’t have every confidence in the long term outlook for the region.”
In Auckland, households with tank water are putting pressure on cartage services to top-up dwindling supplies.
Auckland Council estimates there are about 50,000 households on rainwater tanks across the region.
One West Auckland man said his family’s 25,000-litre tank was down to just a foot of water, and they would be waiting until early March at the minimum before it could be refilled.
To top it off, he and his wife had just had a baby boy two weeks ago — adding to their two other sons — making the water shortage all the more challenging.
“It is pretty tricky.
“With a newborn the washing basket is always full, and having two other boys means there is a lot of washing.”
Watercare says despite record water usage the city supply, while below average levels for this time of year, is in good shape – topped up by other sources like the Waikato River – and no restrictions are required yet.