10 Jan 2017

South Island's two-year drought ends

8:57 pm on 10 January 2017

After two years, regions along the South Island's east coast are no longer considered to be in a state of drought.

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Marlborough, Canterbury and Otago were affected by the drought. Photo: RNZ/ Patrick Phelps

In 2015, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy classified the drought as "a medium-scale adverse event" affecting Marlborough, Canterbury and parts of Otago.

The following two years made the drought the longest recorded in this country - but the official period has not been extended since 31 December.

South Island Drought Committee coordinator Sarah Barr said North Canterbury was still suffering.

But she said, because it was a localised event, it did not meet government criteria for an extension of the drought period.

"It no longer meets the medium-scale requirements, so North Canterbury is the only area that is still suffering negative impacts of drought conditions."

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