‘Perfect storm’: Drought’s impact on Hurunui region

In the first of a two-part series, RNZ reporter Adam Burns and visual journalist Nate McKinnon spoke to farmers and community leaders in North Canterbury about the ongoing drought, tough economic conditions and how locals are supporting each other during this time.

“A perfect storm.”

That’s how a North Canterbury farmer describes the plight facing property owners in the drought-hit Hurunui region, where feed supplies have been depleted.

With spring just around the corner, local producers are praying to the weather gods for some rain.

one Forest fires The need has been further highlighted by fires burning north of Waipara since last Thursday as firefighters struggle to cope with dry and windy conditions.

The lack of significant rainfall in both autumn and winter has further exacerbated the situation in local rural areas.

Moderate adverse events are Announced in March Agriculture Minister Todd McClay presented the award for the Canterbury and Otago regions, a week after it was announced as the South Island’s top prize.

The further funding announcement comes after Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson visited the Hurunui region last month and saw pastures there looking unusually brown over winter.

Until recently, the region had been fluctuating between “drought” and “extreme drought” since January, according to the National Water Agency’s drought monitor.

Fourth generation cattle and sheep farmer Andy Fox has been farming in Scargill for nearly 30 years.

His family has owned 1400 hectares of land west of the Greta Valley since 1877.

Between December 2023 and August 2024, his property received only 220mm of rain.

Fox said in an average 12-month period, rainfall would typically be three times that amount.

“This year is my wettest year, but it’s not even a quarter of that,” he said.

While dry conditions are nothing new in Hurunui during the warmer months, the extended autumn and winter months have put local dryland farmers in a tough spot.

Fox said the region typically experiences a severe drought once every decade.

“In 1988, my first year farming here, we had a drought.

“We have no irrigation facilities, so the water we rely on is from the waterfalls,” he said.

Experienced farmers have faced tough conditions over the past decade, with a prolonged drought in the North Canterbury region between 2014 and 2016.

Fox said while farmers had learned to adapt production, feed management and grazing during the drought, other factors were causing further distress.

Higher interest rates and product pricing further exacerbated agricultural pressures.

“A ewe that’s been calving for me for five or six years … is now worth less than half of what it was last year,” he said.

“We’re facing a perfect storm right now.”

The situation has had an impact on rural service businesses and contractors in the wider region as farmers are strapped for cash.

“Farmers and veterinarians noticed that farmers were starting to spend less or stop spending,” Fox said.

Of the funding support recently confirmed by the Government, $20,000 has been allocated to the Farmers Adverse Events Trust Fund.

The New Zealand Veterinary Association and animal health company Boehringer Ingelheim have also donated an additional $18,000 to provide specialist veterinary support to Hurunui farmers.

Dan Hodgen, a sheep and cattle farmer in the outback region of Hawarden, faces similarly multifaceted obstacles.

As head of the Hurunui Adverse Events Committee, Hodgkin has a keen understanding of the suffering endured by locals.

“We’ve had drier years but with lower rates, lower costs, lamb costs are pretty cheap so it’s a lot easier to deal with.

“It just wears you out and makes normal solutions less feasible or even unfeasible.”

Rising transportation costs for farmers is another deterrent.

Hogan said it cost about $1,300 to send his Hoggart to Southland in 2015.

“Now, the same truck costs three times as much,” he said.

“The fact is I can’t get feed from Ashburton at this price … the money isn’t there like it used to be.”

Hogan said farmers have considered temporary sources of income because revenue streams in the industry are not always reliable.

While he personally does not like the move, he said farmers are tapping the tourism market by building tiny houses and cabins.

Fox and his wife opened a lodging cottage at the back of the property.

He acknowledged that he would not have recommended such a move when revenues and profitability were declining.

Despite farmers’ drought resilience and experience, community leaders remain concerned.

Hurunui District Chief Mary Black said farmers had become adept at dealing with the obstacles that came with farming operations in north Canterbury.

“Farmers are very good at predicting weather patterns and they know when a bad harvest is going to happen,” she said.

“They are doing their best to be proactive and mitigate this impact.

“But sometimes it’s completely out of their control and if it doesn’t rain it can put real pressure on the plantations.”

Black said the camaraderie among the community is invaluable during difficult times.

“We’ve been working hard to try and help people come together and share stories with their neighbors,” she said.

“It’s been a game changer in terms of looking after the welfare of our community.

“It has not relieved the stress, nor has it alleviated the drought or severe feed shortages.

“But sharing this story really helps a lot of people.”