Rural / Country

Rain not enough to lift drought declarations

22:13 pm on 5 April 2013

Farmers in many areas have welcomed the rain which has fallen this week, but others have barely seen a drop.

The Ministry for Primary Industries North Island resource policy manager Stuart Anderson said there hasn't been enough rain to consider removing any official drought declarations.

During March, the entire North Island was declared a drought zone, along with the Buller and Grey districts on the West Coast.

Mr Anderson said said some regions have experienced good rainfall but it has not been widespread or consistent, and areas of Hawke's Bay and Waikato received little rain.