Irrigation systems in rural New Zealand can be handy when it comes to fighting fires but difficulties getting access to the water around Hawke's Bay has made the job difficult for rural fire staff.
Irrigation New Zealand said the increase of on-farm storage ponds, particularly in Canterbury, had benefited rural firefighting crews by providing additional sources of fire-fighting water.
But Central Hawke's Bay's emergency management and bylaws officer Bruce Kitto said while the comments were correct, at times incompatible fittings meant the fire service couldn't use the water.
"Rural ponds are extensively used for rural firefighting but certainly in CHB most of the irrigation water is coming out of ground bores and unless they have couplings compatible with what is carried on fire appliances it is very difficult to access the water."
He said the major water scheme in North Otago was a good example of proactive work by an irrigation project which had set up hydrants to allow firefighting appliances to connect.