Tauranga's summer water restrictions have been extended for the first time in recent years.
Photo: 123rf
Sprinkler and irrigation system use is banned and hosing of hard surfaces such as driveways is prohibited at all times.
However, residents can handwater between 5am and 8am, and 5pm and 8pm.
Tauranga City Council director of city waters Stephen Burton said it was unprecedented to have restrictions coming into April but the limits were necessary as rain had done little to restore flow levels in the area's streams.
Last month, the city's stream flows were at their lowest since records began in 1975, rainfall was still significantly lower than an average year and the short spells of rain had done little to relieve the situation
The sprinkler and irrigation system ban is in place after rainfall this year is down more than 30 percent compared with the average annual amount.