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Source: ONE News -
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Some farmers in the Far North may be forced to have their cows
slaughtered because of the dire drought situation.
Farmers are fast running out of feed and Kaitaia's main water
source is at a record low level.
In 50 years of farming Norm Bryan has never seen it get drier than it is at the moment.
"We haven't had any real rain for four and a half months now," he says.
He is also fast running out of grass and is milking fewer than half his 300 cows. If it does not rain soon, some of the "empty" cows may have to be slaughtered.
"If old Daisy and Myrtle and Mabel don't produce, there's no free feeds around here, they go on the truck, down to the freezing works," Bryan says.
It is not only the farms that are suffering as reservoir and river levels are dropping daily and the local council's are close to a crisis.
"Kaitaia's on the brink of running out of water really, we're on a knife edge in terms of supply and demand," says Alison Lees from the Far North District Council.
The Awanui River is the Kaitaia's main source of water and at the moment its level does not even reach the bottom of the meter. And as for what was once the river bed, it is now crumbling away.
The council wanted water use slashed by 20% and the community has managed 30.
Bans on hoses and irrigation systems have been widened to include waterblasting, topping up spas and pools, and using a carwash. Anyone who breaks the ban faces a fine up to $20,000.
"It's a pretty drastic measure, but this is a drastic situation. It is the worst drought we've had since 1982 and people just have to realise that they must save water," says Lees.
Their efforts are enough to prevent Kaitaia running dry this week, as had been predicted, but it is now hoped the water lasts until rain arrives.
