John Blackwell

Fire and Emergency says fire danger in Northland and the Far North is at a high level with many areas continuing to dry out and long range forecasts suggesting only minimal relief on the horizon.  Audio

Many Northland farms are still underwater after the weekend's devastating floods and more rain is on the way.

The government has put $26 million towards fixing damaged roads and bridges and building… Audio

Farmers in parched regions of the country say the recent rainfall is a small reprieve -- but it's no drought-breaker. The hardest hit areas of Northland, Auckland, Hawkes Bay and North Canterbury got… Audio

Farmers are describing the small amount of rain that fell in Northland overnight as a tease rather than a drought-breaker.

Sheep and beef farmers have been de-stocking to try to cope with the dry.

… Audio

Northland Federated Farmers president and sheep farmer John Blackwell is calling on the government to declare a drought in his region.  Audio

Water cuts are looming in pockets of the country that are drying up fast.

Councils in some areas are assembling dry-weather crews, farmers are now giving extra feed to stock, and Northland kiwi birds… Audio