Fine weather means farmers can assess stock losses

Hawke's Bay farmers will be out in fine weather today to assess stock losses after the three-day cold snap that began on Wednesday.

Federated Farmers spokesman for the area, Kevin Mitchell, said he had talked to farmers on the Napier-Taupo road, but many of them would not know the extent of losses until later today.

Mr Mitchell said the bad weather had been "pretty distressing" for farmers in affected areas.

He said farmers had moved as much stock as they could into shelter.

Mr Mitchell said the wind chill was the most severe aspect of the bad weather. Sheep were quite happy to handle the snow, but they felt the wind chill in the same way people did, he said.

Spokeswoman for the Manawatu and Rangatikei region, Ruth Rainey, said most of the farmers in the area had finished lambing.

Ms Rainey said there would be some stock losses for farmers between Napier and Taihape but there had been no indication of numbers yet.

"It was a pretty nasty 36 hour period ... short and sharp."

Ms Rainey said some of the lambs born during this period would have died.

The MetService forecast generally fine periods today across the country, with showers developing this evening.

Only Gisborne through to Wairarapa will be fine all day.

Tomorrow the North Island will be mainly fine, apart from isolated showers in the west.

The South Island will be mainly fine in the north and east but showers will turn to rain along the West Coast.

There will be scattered rainfalls reaching Southland and Otago later in the day.

- NZPA