Dealing with drought conditions

Update – 7 March 2025

Drought classification extended to more regions

Drought conditions across parts of the North Island and the top of the South Island have been classified as a medium-scale adverse event.

The classifications unlock further support for farmers and growers.

Media releases

Drought declaration extended across three North Island and top of the South regions – Beehive

Drought conditions declared across Taranaki – Beehive

Actions for farmers during a drought

Monitor your feed situation

Drought forecasting tool

Contact a Rural Support Trust

Talk to an industry association

Check your budget

Other drought advice and guidance

Monitor your feed situation

Every year, there is potential for dry conditions around the country. This may lead to shortages of feed in some regions. Ongoing feed planning and budgeting is essential.

Information is available to support you practically, financially, and for your wellbeing, and to assist your business to thrive.

Preparing for dry weather – Fact sheet [PDF, 682 KB]

Feed in dry times – Fact sheet [PDF, 1.4 MB]

Drought monitor – NIWA

Get help with feed planning

Having a feed budget can help you:

calculate your feed demand
calculate your feed supply
investigate options to fill feed gaps
proactively make decisions.

Getting a plan in place can help give you peace of mind. Farm advisers are available to help you complete a feed budget or source alternative feed.

For drystock farmers, freephone Beef + Lamb NZ on 0800 BEEFLAMB (0800 23 33 52)
For dairy farmers, freephone DairyNZ on 0800 4 DairyNZ (0800 43 24 79 69)

Drought forecasting tools

NIWA and MPI have developed a drought forecasting tool to help farmers and growers better prepare for periods of dryness and drought.

The tool uses innovative climate modelling, the latest in machine-learning and other data-driven techniques.

NIWA officially launched this tool in October 2023. This is updated daily to provide forecasts at a much higher spatial resolution than previously available. This will enable the provision of district-level predictions of dryness and drought.

This tool supplements the existing NZ Drought Index (NZDI) that was jointly launched by NIWA and MPI in 2017.

Drought forecasting tool – NIWA

High-tech investment extends drought forecasting for farmers and growers – Beehive

Hawke's Bay drought indicator

A drought risk indicator tool is also available for rural communities in Hawke's Bay.

The tool was designed by the regional council with funding from MPI and in partnership with the Hawke's Bay Rural Advisory Group.

Drought Risk Indicator – Hawke's Bay Regional Council

Contact a Rural Support Trust

Each of the country’s 14 Rural Support Trusts have local, rural people who know from experience that pressures can mount up. Your local trust can provide support and advice. Talking to them is confidential, and free of charge. They can connect you with the services you need, whether it's financial and business advice or health services.

Freephone 0800 78 72 54 (0800 RURAL HELP).

Rural Support Trust

Talk to an industry association

Industry associations like Beef + Lamb New Zealand or DairyNZ can provide technical advice. Their websites have information on planning your feed budget and managing an animal's condition.

Knowledge hub – Beef + Lamb New Zealand

Animal management – DairyNZ

Check your budget

Talk to your bank and accountant early, and talk to them regularly.

Your accountant and Inland Revenue, can answer questions relating to taxes, including access to flexibility provisions to the Income Equalisation Scheme following adverse events.

Extended support for farmers affected by drought – Inland Revenue

Income Equalisation Scheme – Inland Revenue

Income tax – Inland Revenue

Family Tax Credits – Inland Revenue

There is some Work and Income support that you could access. Talk to your local Rural Support Trust about emergency benefits, special needs grants, or rural assistance payments.

Emergency Benefit – Work and Income

Special Needs Grant – Work and Income

Rural Assistance Payment – Work and Income

Other drought advice and guidance

Case studies on managing sheep and beef farms through drought:

Winterhome – Kekerengu, Marlborough [PDF, 1.6 MB]
Ridgecliff – Banks Peninsula, Canterbury [PDF, 2.4 MB]
The Homestead – Ward Beach, Marlborough [PDF, 3.5 MB]
Attadale – Middlemarch, Otago [PDF, 1.1 MB]

Feed and supply chain issues - Beef + Lamb New Zealand

Webinars are available on the Beef + Lamb NZ website that are focused on helping farmers prepare for disruptions based on the outlook for the current season. The aim was to get farmers thinking about the importance of planning.

Planning for smart decisions (16 March 2022)

Part 1: Planning for disruption webinar

Part 2: Planning for disruption webinar

Part 3: Planning for disruption webinar