Parched Southland finally gets rain

22:45 pm on 5 April 2022

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Smoke from a fire burning through 1000 hectares of manuka scrub and peat soils at Awarua, south of Invercargill, on 3 April, 2022. Photo: Fire and Emergency NZ

Parched southland has finally got some rain and it will continue to rain over the coming days.


It will be welcome news to  firefighters battling the large fire on conservation wetlands at Awarua, south of Invercargill.
It is also welcomed news to farmers.


Last week for the first time ever, the whole of Southland was ordered to stop irrigation for two weeks to help deal with the region's drought.


Southland Federated Farmer Junior Vice President Jason Herrick tells Karyn the rain is welcome, but may be too late.