Farmers say the rain that's fell in the Bay of Plenty on Tuesday and on Monday night will be enough to break the drought in most of the region.
The Bay of Plenty was given official drought status early in March, along with Waikato and Hawke's Bay, in the week before the whole of the North Island was declared a drought zone.
Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty president, Te Puke farmer John Scrimgeour, said this week's rain will end that.
He said there had been about 100millimetres of rain in Te Puke with even more in the high country.
"Even in the coastal areas from Te Puke through to Whakatane they've had between 30 and 50 millimetres and rain is continuing to fall. We believe that this will get most areas growing again."
He says soil temperatures are still warm so there's an opportunity to get pasture growing before winter sets in.