Drought status may be lifted

Drought status may be lifted for some areas of the country as the Government begins talks with experts following extensive rain in recent weeks.

The North Island and the West Coast of the South Island were declared in a state of drought earlier this year due to extremely dry weather during summer.

Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty president John Scrimgeour told Radio New Zealand his farm had received more rain in the past week that it had in the last six months.

He said some farms had been swamped.

Farmers in Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, and parts of Waikato say rainfall over the past week has broken the drought.

Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy said official drought status would not be reversed until at least next month.

- Kate Shuttleworth of APNZ

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