Northlanders need to get used to climate change and the likelihood of more droughts, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy said on a drought-dried Kaipara farm yesterday.
He visited John and Lurline Blackwell's sheep and beef farm on Mititai Rd south of Dargaville to meet locals, learn about their issues and offer sympathy to farmers struggling with drought problems.
Mr Guy, who farms dairy and beef cattle near Levin, said it was important for him to get out of Wellington and see the conditions which last month led to the west coast of Northland being declared a localised drought area.
He was last in Dargaville in February 2013 when Northland was declared a drought area after the driest summer in 70 years.
Mr Guy acknowledged how the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change update released Monday forecast more Northland droughts, floods and wildfires in future.