Minister for Agriculture and Rural Communities Damien O'Connor today announced that the medium-scale adverse event classification for the drought in parts of the country would be extended to the whole of Southland, Otago's Queenstown Lakes, Central Otago and Clutha districts.
The classification triggers additional funding of up to $130,000 for the local Rural Support Trusts and industry groups to coordinate recovery support.
O'Connor said they had been working with local farming groups, councils and Niwa to monitor how the drought had been progressing and its impact on the farming communities.
"Anticipated rain that could have provided respite just hasn't fallen in the right areas to mitigate the effects of the early hot dry summer," he said.
"Farmers have been unable to grow sufficient feed for winter, and have been using stored feed and buying in supplements for stock, as well as selling off animals.