Mighty River Power has rejected a request to top up the "extremely low" Waikato River and people are being warned that a rain forecast will not be a "silver bullet".

Most of the North Island could be declared a drought zone by the end of the week, but Prime Minister John Key says the impact on the Government's books remains to be seen.

Waikato dairy farmer Peter Brown rates his anxiety levels "about a 7.5" out of 10 as he endures his second drought in just five years.

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.

Firefighters are battling a scrub fire in a remote part of rural Waikato this morning.

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.

Two teenagers have been commended by police for their desperate efforts to save their friend after he failed to surface while swimming in the Waikato River.

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.

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.

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.

A woman was killed on a Waikato farm yesterday when the vehicle she was driving rolled down a bank.

Waikato town planners are bracing for an overflow of Aucklanders from the Super City as it seeks to find living space for its booming population.

Bike trails on the Waikato River led Elisabeth Easther to bush, bridges and a five-star boudoir

Waikato police say the consequences of poor decision making are readily apparent as officers investigate the death of a young man early this morning.

Pamela Wade finds a farm turned into a fantasy setting.

A furious dad says his 2-year-old son was nearly killed by a drunk boatie who who went on to cause another accident.

Rural Coromandel was so much fun Alexia Santamaria's kids want a return trip — immediately.