More fire bans likely as drought fears rise

In Gisborne five helicopters joined fire crews to douse an out-of-control fire. Photo / NZPA

A long spell of dry weather is likely to lead to more fire bans being put in place and has prompted the Government to express concerns of a drought in the worst-affected regions.

Despite fresh rainfall and forecasters' predictions of a wet week, the Gisborne District Council said it was on the verge of imposing a fire ban because of dangerous conditions.

Total fire bans have been in place in the Far North, Whangarei and Coromandel since late last month, and the district councils said there was no sign they would be lifted soon.

Agriculture Minister David Carter said the Government would consider drought assistance for farmers if conditions worsened.

"I know that many farmers are still recovering from last year's drought and have been working hard to build feed reserves, restock their farms and improve stock conditions.

"Drought has a devastating effect on farmers, rural communities and the economy. The impact is felt not just by farmers, but by all New Zealanders."

He said the ministry was concerned about Northland, which was approaching drought status, parts of Gisborne, inland Bay of Plenty, Central Otago and coastal Canterbury.

Northland received less than half of its normal rainfall in December, and less than 20 per cent in coastal regions.

Water tanks ran out unusually early in the area, and prices for bulk water delivery climbed as the district council was forced to ask commercial operators to stop sourcing water from its main supply.

MetService expected localised showers in the next two days, and a possible belt of heavier rain on Friday.

But the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) said 130mm of rain was needed to return soil moisture levels to normal in Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Hawkes Bay.

Climate scientist Jim Renwick said it was expected that the ground would not be saturated in January, but some areas were twice as dry as usual.

He said the soil deficit levels were similar to two years ago when the driest weather in more than a century cost the dairy industry $1.4 billion.

"The outlook in the longer term is that it should stay dry, so if the rest of the month stays the same there'll be a few people talking drought."

A high soil-moisture deficit means pasture growth is stunted, and milk production can suffer.

Federated Farmers adverse events spokesman David Rose said the federation was a little concerned by the dry spell and was preparing to give advice to farmers.

A total fire ban was inevitable in Gisborne, said principal fire officer Rene Londeman, unless the weather pattern changed drastically.

Mr Londeman said the area was losing 6mm to 8mm of moisture in the soil a day, and the drizzle that fell yesterday would not reverse that deficit.

He said forestry workers with training in firefighting were being put on standby.

"We have a restricted fire season at the moment ... but it still doesn't give the message of how dangerous it is to light fires."

ON THE FIRING LINE

FAR NORTH
Total fire ban, some water restrictions.

THAMES-COROMANDEL
Total fire ban.

WHANGAREI
Total fire ban.

GISBORNE
Restricted fire season, expected fire ban.

WAIKATO
Restricted fire season.