Electricity supply risks appear to have eased in the South Island.
Radio New Zealand reported two weeks ago that the flow of water into South Island hydro storage lakes was the worst for 80 years.
But inflows since then have risen above the extremely low levels of the droughts of 1992 and 2008, though they still remain below average levels for this time of the year.
The amount of water actually stored in the lakes also remains below average for this time of year but has picked up in the past few days.
Despite the improved situation, electricity prices in the South Island are higher than in the North.
