Impacts on Northland

The effects of the drought were severe and widespread. The economic cost of the drought on Northland has been estimated to be over $300 million, production loss from dairy and livestock farming was the major contributor. Other impacts included:

• Poor pasture cover, stock feed shortages;
• Poor condition of stock and animal health problems;
• Water supply shortages - rural, urban and irrigation;
• Stress, health and welfare;
• Financial losses and hardship;
• Extreme fire risk; and
• Environmental and ecological stress.

Even though the drought has broken, the impacts are still being felt across Northland. Costs of re-stocking and winter feed, lower lambing/calving, water stress impacting tree health and next season's harvest are just a few of the ongoing impacts of the drought.