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WELLINGTON - The Government has called farming and rural sector leaders to the Beehive for a drought summit this afternoon.
Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton has asked them to bring assessments of their areas, and details of their plans to help farmers affected by the hot, dry weather.
Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday the summit would be about sharing information and forming "a collective understanding" of the issues.
She said Waikato was the only region so far declared a drought area but there were very dry conditions in other places.
"The Government has a role to play with respect to how IRD handles provisional tax, and there are programmes we invoke for income relief," she said.
Mr Anderton said organisations invited to send representatives included: DairyNZ, Meat and Wool New Zealand, Fonterra, Federated Farmers, the banking sector, the Meat Industry Association, Horticulture New Zealand, the Veterinary Association, Horticulture New Zealand, rural Women, the Pork Industry Board, the Nursery and Garden Association and NIWA.
The meeting is due to start at 4.30pm.
- NZPA
