Mata dairy farmer Bruce Paton is happy with the 30mm of rain his farm received on Wednesday night although it was not enough to break the drought. Photo / John Stone
Northland farmers still have a tough road ahead and while this week's downpour was a welcome relief, they say it was not enough to break the drought.
The bulk of the rain that began mid morning on Wednesday and lasted until midday yesterday fell along the east coast from Kaeo south to Whangarei at a steady 5mm to 10mm an hour.
The west coast and Far North received minimal rain of between 5mm and 10mm.
Rainfall figures provided by the Northland Regional Council showed Oakura Bay received 67.5mm- the most rain in the region between 9am on Wednesday and 12pm yesterday.
In contrast, Hokianga Harbour at Omapere and Opononi received only 0.5mm while just 2.5mm fell in Oruru, 14km southwest of Mangonui, during the same period.
The latest rain was forecast to clear last night and MetService said the next lot of rain for Northland was not until later next week.
Meteorologist Tuporo Marsters said fine weather would return today and that temperatures in Northland were likely to be in the late 20s early next week.
Bruce Paton, a dairy farmer with 800 cows at Mata, just south of Whangarei, welcomed the 30mm of rain that fell on his farm on Wednesday night but said three days of downpour was needed to break the drought.
"This rain is a good start and it's good it fell during the night because it will better soak into the ground," he said. "The different species of grass as well as maize will enjoy this rain but we need follow up rain to have a bigger impact."
Mr Paton said strong westerlies had dropped off, helping the dry ground absorb the welcome rain.
Out west, Ruawai dairy farmer Garth Preston was not as lucky as those in Whangarei and described the 5mm of rain his farm received overnight on Wednesday as nothing more than a "dust settler".
"We ideally need 100mm spread over a week or a minimum of 50mm to sink in. It's never too late for rain but it's too late now to have a significant influence on our season.
"So regardless of how much rain fell from now on, farmers will have an ordinary season but its the dairy payout which will be more than we've had in the last two years which will save the day," he said.
In Awanui, David Gray welcomed 4mm of rain on his dairy farm although he said more would have been ideal.
"Some places got better rainfall and I am pleased that it reduced the stress for farmers in those areas. The little rain we've had will at least keep the grass alive."
Rural Support Northland has urged farmers and horticulturists to manage the impact of the drought by having short and long term plans and to review them regularly.
The trust's Northland Adverse Events Team had its meeting on Wednesday evening and ironically parts of the region received between 1mm and 40mm of rain within hours of their meet.
That rain was not enough to lift water restrictions imposed by the Far North District Council which said sustained rainfall was needed in the coming days and weeks to lift river and stream levels.
In Whangarei, the Whau Valley and Wilson dams are 75 per cent and 83 per cent full respectively despite falling river levels.
No water restrictions are presently in place in the district.
The Kaipara District Council has banned the use of hosepipes, irrigation and sprinkler use for households connected to the Dargaville and Baylys Beach public water supply.
Top 10 rainfall readings in Northland this week:
Oakura Bay at Te Kapua St- 67.5mm Ngunguru at Dugmores Rock- 65mm Waitangi at McDonald Rd- 64.5mm Towai- 61.5mm Kerikeri at Bay of Islands Golf Club- 54mm Waitangi at Wiroa Rd- 45mm Veronica channel at Opua wharf- 41.5mm Marsden Pt oil refinery- 32mm Okarika on Rowland Rd, south4 east of Dargaville- 29.5mm Waiarohia stream on Water St- 28.6mm