Rain lashes parts of New Zealand as drought summit
Warnings were issued for Canterbury and the Kaikoura coast this morning as a slow moving depression moved east of the South Island. Flash floods triggered landslides making some Canterbury roads impassable, with 120mm (5 inches) of rain falling overnight. This is the first significant rain to have fallen here since last October.
As rain lashed the South Island, there were also disruptions to the play in England’s second One Day International in Hamilton, ending up as a much shortened game.
Meanwhile New Zealand’s Parliament was meeting up in Wellington for a summit on the country’s drought situation.
At present Waikato has been declared a drought area, although many other areas are currently experiencing very dry conditions. It was declared a drought area last month as the area experienced its driest January in a century.
While reservoirs are said to be full to two thirds of their capacity, the hot summer has seen an increase in water consumption which has worried government officials. There are concerns that lowering lake levels could eventually bring problems with power shortages as hydro electricity accounts for 65% of the countries supply.
More rain is forecast across New Zealand over the coming week.
