Northland locals are being warned to conserve water, as the heat goes on across the region.
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The region is the latest to deliver warnings on water use, as the country deals with a hot, dry start to summer.
Water restrictions have already been introduced in Tauranga and Nelson. In Wellington, authorities have been forced to dip into its storage lakes two months earlier than usual, while Southland is facing its driest year on record.
In the north, there has been little rain since early spring, and soil temperatures in Dargaville and Warkworth are 3-4 degrees above average.
The Regional Council said rain was predicted for this summer, but the timing would be critical.
Council manager Colin Dall said if the hot weather kept up, river flows - especially in the south and west of the region - will be very low by January.
Mr Dall said people on tank water should check their levels now and be aware there could be significant delays in ordering water tankers.
He said there was no need for alarm at this point, but it would be wise to start saving water now, and avoid wasting it.
Demand for water overflows in Auckland
Auckland water suppliers say they do not have enough trucks or hours in the day to keep up with demand.
Some residents have been caught off-guard by the hot weather, and tank supplies were already running low.
Some tank suppliers told RNZ News they were running far busier than usual, with some booked out until late January.
Lynnice Read, of Hibuscus Water Supply, said things had been absolutely crazy since mid-November, two months earlier than usual.
"People are running out, we can't get to out west - Helensville, Kumeu, areas like that. We just haven't got enough drivers and tanker trucks to service the demand, we can only do so many hours in the day."
Ms Read said tankers were doing about 70 deliveries a day, working morning till night.
Meanwhile, the continuing dry weather in Nelson is threatening supplies to properties that take water straight from streams and bores.
The city council said about 500 properties were close to having water restrictions imposed, as river levels had dropped to extremely low levels.
All residents on the city supply network have been asked to save water, while those in neighbouring Tasman district face tougher water rationing.
A council spokesperson said a burst water main at Richmond, which meant water was critically low late yesterday, had been repaired.
Water restrictions are already in place across the Waimea Plains, and MetService was not forecasting much rain until Christmas Day.