By LIBBY MIDDLEBROOK and NZPA
The energy-sapping humid spell has taken its toll on plant and beast as well as humanity in the past fortnight.
In Hawkes Bay grape-growers say they are facing heavy crop losses because the humidity is causing botrytis mould and splitting the fruit.
Even livestock is not immune. In one extreme case, a Northland farmer says he lost six Angus cows because of the heat on Tuesday.
Farmer Wayne Wright at Oue, near Hokianga, said the cows, which had plenty of water but no shade, died in temperatures of more than 30 degrees.
"They were all right at lunchtime, but about 8 o'clock the old man rang me and said I'd better get down there.
"There were three in a drain and we dragged them out, but there were six others dead in the paddock."
The disaster was compounded by the dead cows having feeding calves, but the calves were old enough to survive alone.
Mr Wright said there was no wind on the farm flats, but stock had not died in hot weather in the past.
The country is in the grip of topsy-turvy weather that has left some areas struggling with drought and extreme fire risks, and others dealing with the aftermath of heavy rain and hot, soupy humidity.
Hawkes Bay winegrowers are struggling to retain their grape crops for this year's harvest.
An air frost destroyed up to 90 per cent of some crops in November and the recent humidity is putting growers under further pressure, as mildew and botrytis emerge.
The humidity is also causing grapes to split.
"At this stage it's been a season to remember," said Robin Sage, the president of the Hawkes Bay Grape Growers' Association. "It's not normal Hawkes Bay conditions."
Wine industry sources said the crop would be light compared with last year's record of nearly 24,000 tonnes.
Some estimates suggest the harvest could be down by as much as 40 to 50 per cent on last year's, which was worth $29 million.
For CJ Pask, which had estimated its fruit loss at up to 60 per cent, the scenario has been worse than imagined. Winemaker Kate Radburnd said the Hastings winery was now expecting only 25 to 30 per cent of normal production.
The chief winemaker at Sileni Estate Winery, Grant Edmonds, said production would be down about 85 per cent this year.
"This is definitely the sort of season where you find out who the best winemakers are."
A MetService weather forecaster said the Auckland region would receive showers today and during the weekend, although the warm humid weather is here to stay in the short term.
Workers in a section of the Wiri-based Ford New Zealand Alloy Wheel Plant are taking 30-minute breaks because of the weather.
Manager Neil Campbell said the plant had brought in 12 extra workers to relieve staff working afternoon shifts in the foundry, where molten aluminium is used to make wheels.
"It's quite a common practice. It's just to provide some relief for the workers," he said.
Wellington has received only 31.6mm of rain so far this year. Normal rainfall for January and February is 160mm.
The fire danger is now extreme in Wairarapa, Wellington, Marlborough, North Canterbury, Wanaka and Central Otago.
Herald Online Weather
Hot? Even the grapes can't take it
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