Drought took its toll on the trade balance last month. Exports exceeded imports by $157 million, equivalent to 4 per cent of exports.

The rain is here and the grass is growing but some farmers will still be battling the effects of the worst drought in 30 years over the winter months.

The tiny Outback town of Richmond, 400km east of Mt Isa in northwest Queensland, celebrated its annual fossil festival last week.

Drought relief provisions for farmers will continue until the end of September, the Government said.

The worst drought in 40 years could cost the West Coast tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue, a leading West Coast farmer warns.

Join us at noon today for a live chat with Federated Farmers president Bruce Wills. You can send in your questions now.

Led by dairy products, prices for export commodities surged last month - and this time the rise in world prices was not eaten up by a higher exchange rate.

Desperate farmers in southern Hawkes Bay may receive some welcome relief this week from this summer's record drought but those in the north of the province can expect the big dry to continue.

The Greater Wellington Regional Council says a hold up in water restrictions for the region being put in place is down to the Wellington City Council.

Wellington's water shortage is looking less dire after an overwhelming response to water conservation messages.

Homeowners are struggling with a rodent problem as the long dry spell creates perfect breeding conditions for rats and mice.

An unexpected trade surplus last month shrank the annual deficit to its smallest since last September, but economists expect the drought to widen it again.

The start of winter soccer for hundreds of Auckland children will be delayed because the drought's stunting of grass growth has made fields dangerous or vulnerable to destruction.

Farmers throughout the North Island continue to hope for rain as the big dry bites hard, making conditions for some worse than the 2008 drought.

Those suffering as a result of the drought will be relieved that forecasts are showing an increase in small rain fronts and low pressure bands making their way over the country.

As drought grips the country, the Government is promoting giant dams to irrigate dry farmland. Geoff Cumming investigates whether the biggest of these plans will work for farmers, investors and environmentalists

Buller and Grey Districts have become the first areas of the South Island to be declared drought zones, and rain is still 10 days away.

The North Island drought is unlikely to be broken this month, with nothing but scattered showers on the horizon over the next 10 days.