Farmers in Otago and Southland are hoping the rains forecast for later in the week will deliver them from drought.
Rivers in the area are at record lows and the low rainfall over the last year has made the dry conditions worse. Droughts have already been declared in the lower North Island and the South Island's West Coast.
Gary Kelliher runs sheep and deer on 500 hectares in the Manuherikia Valley, six kilometres out of Alexandra in Otago.
