The Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) has decided - for now - against a formal adverse events declaration for Maniototo and the rest of Otago, which are subjected to dry conditions. 

“Hopefully, the rain over the last few days is the beginning of the end, albeit we are still in a significant soil moisture deficit,” Otago Federated Farmers president Mark Patterson said.

The Rural Support Trust has advised Federated Farmers Otago that it will continue to watch the situation closely. 

The Otago Regional Council (OCR) has urged affected farmers to exercise caution over water use despite recent rain as the situation hovers at the critical end of the scale. 

All rivers monitored by OCR are currently out of the “low flow” category, with most sites higher with recent rain.

“The Maniototo, West and South Otago areas such as Pomahaka, Waipahi, the Catlins, rivers such as the Manuherekia, Queenstown and the area around the top of Lake Dunstan will go back to low flows really quickly unless there is follow up rain,” ORC regulatory acting general manager Joanna Gilroy said.

With the long-term forecast still pointing towards ongoing dry conditions, the OCR will send out regular updates of river flow levels posted to its website and Facebook page.

Visit the new OCR environmental data portal for the latest water flow levels.