Most of the North Island is currently in the grip of a historic drought that is the most severe in over 70 years of climate records.

The wine industry risks slipping back into overproduction as one of the driest summers in living memory provides outstanding grape-growing conditions across the country, says an analyst.

Farmers should know in a few days if Tropical Cyclone Sandra, forming off the coast of Australia, will bring some vital rain to parched NZ farmland, forecasters say.

The parched North Island won't see rain for at least a week as hot, dry weather continues in what has been described as one of the worst droughts since the 1940s.

A climate expert believes summers like this one will become the new norm for New Zealand. Droughts have already been declared across much of the North Island.

A shortage of water across the Wellington region means there is now a ban on garden sprinklers and irrigation systems.

The drought is working its way down the country, and with with no change predicted until at least mid-March, farmers from Northland to Southland are suffering.

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.

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 Inland Revenue Department has announced help for drought-hit Northland farmers.

The Government has officially declared a state of drought in Northland and authorities are expected to do the same in the Waikato today.

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

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.