A medium-scale adverse event has been declared for the Southland and Clutha and Queenstown Lakes districts, as the drought affecting the southern New Zealand continues.

Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor announced the adverse event today and acknowledged the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the region.

This adverse event classification provides $100,000 in Government funding to support farmers and growers from now until October 2022.

Meanwhile Environment Southland has issuing a Water Shortage Direction banning all taking of water for irrigation for 14 days.

This unprecedented step covers the whole of Southland.  

Environment Southland chief executive Rob Phillips said the current level of rivers and aquifers and the lack of rainfall predicted over the next few weeks has meant that we have issued this first water shortage direction.

“The intention with the water shortage direction is that by removing water takes for irrigation we will be able to ease some of the pressure on our rivers and aquifers,” Phillips said.

“Some rivers and aquifers are now at critical levels, and while we acknowledge this direction will create challenges, we must take action to reduce water use in order to protect the health of the rivers, while ensuring we still provide for essential human and animal health water supplies.”

In addition to having a very dry summer, Southland has had one of the driest years to date when compared to other years. The region has had about 57 percent of the normal rainfall. Coastal areas have only had 49 percent of the normal rainfall. This is the driest year to date since ES’s records began in 1970.

“Working with those impacted is incredibly important. We know the rural community in particular is dealing with both this water shortage and staff shortages due to Covid, and this is affecting our processing industries as well,” Phillips said.

“Many farmers are taking action now, and we’ll continuing to work with the Rural Support Trust, councils and others to support those most affected.”

Councils have put water restrictions in place across most of Southland, and Fire and Emergency New Zealand has issued a complete fire ban for Southland.

“We urge all Southlanders to consider your household, farm and business water use and look at where you can make some savings,” Phillips said.