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

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.

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.

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.

There is no real risk to insurance companies in this, as it is either passed on to reinsurers, or is covered by weather-linked "catastrophe bonds", writes Michael Naylor.

Wellington could run out of water next month if the council's worst-case scenario pans out - and much-needed downpours have only worsened the region's water woes.

Two professional weather forecasters got close to predicting the record hot, dry summer, but a "motivational astrologer" was adrift.

The jump in output in 2012 was primarily led by agriculture (up 29.8 per cent) due to good growing conditions.Statistics New Zealand

The weekend's rain has been welcomed as a start but hasn't come near the 100mm needed to put an end to the drought.

Finance Minister Bill English now believes the drought could cost the nation's economy up to $2 billion - double the figure estimated last week.

Farmers need to adapt for a drier future as events like the 'once-in-a-lifetime' drought become closer to the norm.

The drought conditions much of the country is facing could lead to much higher than usual levels of tutin in honey.

The forecast rain could add to the problems for drought affected farmers, even though the prospect of wet weather in many places from tomorrow is good news.

Rain is still on track to spread across the country this weekend, bringing much-needed relief to the parched North Island and parts of the South Island heading the same way.

Baked-hard sporting fields with barely a blade of grass are threatening to delay the start of winter sports next month.

It’s a sad state when cracks are the only things growing in the garden.

Rain is still on track to spread across the country this weekend, bringing relief to the parched North Island and parts of the South Island heading the same way.

The entire North Island has officially been declared a drought zone. Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay have already been declared to be in drought.