Big dry forces stock selloffs, but Aucklanders can still water gardens, wash cars thanks to Waikato River supplies

A tropical cyclone and three other heavy rain patterns are due to position themselves above NZ this weekend, but it is unlikely they will bring much-needed rain.

Droughts have been declared in South Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay regions, a week after drought was declared in Northland.

Here comes the end of the golden weather - but March is still forecast to treat sunseekers to the afterglow of an extremely fine summer.

A drought is expected to be declared in the Waikato this week after brief showers did little to help parched farms, and the Hawkes Bay is expected to follow suit.

A spell of the driest weather for years has parts of the North Island on drought alert. Cracks in the soil, dead grass, vegetables half their normal size, dry forests and fire alerts, are just some of the symptoms of the region's drought.

Patchy showers have fallen in the central, northern and eastern North Island this morning, but barely enough to top up water tanks and penetrate dry soil.

The big dry has parts of the country firmly in its grip. The Government has declared a drought in Northland and is expected to do so in Waikato.

The North Island has had one of its driest summers in years, with farmers now feeling the brunt of the lack of water.

Hot, dry weather has many Bay of Plenty dairy farmers struggling to make ends meet as Tauranga stares down the barrel of the third driest month in living memory.

Temperatures on the east coast of New Zealand could reach 40 degrees today and tomorrow, according to a climate scientist, and authorities are on drought watch.

New Zealand is set for a humid summer, with experts predicting a warm and wet January and February.

Rainfall over the past few days has made a Waikato farmer's "wishes come true", but he warns its effect will not be immediate.

David Carter has declared a drought in the Waikato and Ruapehu District, saying recent rainfalls appear to have had little effect on dry pastures.