Drought-stricken farmers welcome rain, but concern remains
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Recent rain has given drought-stricken farmers in Canterbury a boost, but concern remains, says Hurunui mayor Marie Black.
The Hurunui Adverse Events Committee met following the wet weather over Labour Weekend, with reports of between 50mm and 100mm of rain throughout the district.
‘‘It was pretty consistent. We were lucky that it fell across the district to relieve many worried farmers," Black said.
‘‘It is also really important to recognise that while it was termed as ‘a million dollar rain’, it hasn’t changed some of the issues farmers are facing with regrassing and the cost burden.’’
She said farmers have experience 11 months of no significant rainfall, with the Government declaring a medium-scale adverse event in March.
‘‘It was a timely and welcomed rain and it was sufficient to get some growth started.
‘‘But we have gone for a long time without significant rain. It has a creeping and insidious impact on the local community and the local economy as a whole.’’
Black said more is needed to ensure creeks and groundwater are properly replenished before summer sets in.
It is a busy time of year for farmers, with new spring lambs on the ground and farmers getting ready for shearing.
Farmers will be looking to cut some hay or baleage in the coming weeks as they look to rebuild their feed supplies, she said.
‘‘We need times of warm, dry weather and there are times when we need moisture. It is hard to get the balance right.
‘‘We will continue to monitor the situation and we have mitigation steps in place.’’
Events are being planned to encourage farmers to take some time off the farm and ensure they are kept informed, she said.
The Labour Weekend rain was not good news for everybody, with the Northern A&P Association’s Rangiora Show cancelled on the Saturday morning (October 26), as the rain tumbled down.
North Canterbury Federated Farmers meat and wool chairperson and Marble Point Station farmer Sara Black said she enjoyed ‘‘staying home and watching it rain’’.
‘‘There are a few lambs around, but because it was a warm and gentle rain, they would have pulled through.’’
Many farmers reduced their ewe numbers prior to lambing, while scanning results indicated there were lower lambing percentages this year, meaning there are less mouths to feed.
Poll: Should we be giving the green light to new mining projects? 💰🌲
The Environmental Protection Authority announced this week that a proposed mine in Central Otago (near Cromwell) is about to enter its fast-track assessment process. A final decision could come within six months, and if it’s approved, construction might start as early as mid-2026.
We want to know: Should mining projects like this move ahead?
Keen to dig deeper? Mike White has the scoop.
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53.1% Yes
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46.9% No
‘Tis the season to not get scammed ...
As Christmas gift shopping moves increasingly online, scammers are ramping up their activity across the country.
Dunedin’s Investigation Support Unit is seeing more and more people fall victim to scams and other fraudulent activity, particularly on Facebook Marketplace.
There are a few ways to avoid the scams and keep yourself safe doing online trades this holiday season, says Southern District Service Delivery Manager Senior Sergeant Dalton.
🔒 “A good first step when looking to purchase something on Marketplace is to check when the seller’s Facebook profile was created. If it’s very recent, there is a higher risk that they have just created this account for a one-off fake item.”
🔒 Another important step is to make sure the seller’s profile name and bank account name match up. “We’re seeing a lot of scammers claiming their bank account name is different because it belongs to their partner or family member - that’s a huge red flag."
🔒 “When you’re selling, never trust a screenshot anyone sends you showing that payment has been made. Check your own bank account to make sure a payment has gone through."
🔒 “Quite frankly, it’s best for all parties to agree to pay, or be paid, for items in cash and in-person. Ideally in a public place with CCTV coverage."
🔒 "If you’re buying a car, check Carjam.co.nz to see if it’s stolen or if there’s money owed on it.”
A reminder: Suspicious activity can be reported on 105
Turn Wallpaper Scraps into Beautiful Blossoms
These blossoms made from Resene wallpaper left over after decorating will mean your décor will be blooming gorgeous, no matter the season. Find out how to create your own wallpaper flowers with these easy step by step instructions.
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