All Episodes

March 11, 2020 9 mins
Drought-ravaged areas of New Zealand will receive almost $12.5 million in support from the Government as rural New Zealand continues to grapple with the economic impacts of the big dry.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern unveiled the spending package this afternoon.
She acknowledged the rural sector, particularly in the North Island, was "doing it tough" with significant and sustained droughts in many areas.
The $12.4 million spending package includes:

$10 million to respond to immediate needs such as delivering water for consumption, sanitation, wastewater systems, stock welfare and horticulture;
$2 million to support farmers and growers following today's large-scale drought classification across the North Island, parts of the South Island and the Chathams; and
$421,000 to extend the reach of Rural Assistance Payments – which can be used to buy water.

"Water is running low across the board – for drinking supplies, the primary sector and firefighting storage – and we will help our communities to get through it," Ardern said.
The package, according to Ardern, will focus on solving immediate needs which cannot be fixed through existing sources and suppliers.
It would also ensure adequate water supply to North Island communities.
Ardern said sustained rainfall would be needed to break the drought in the upper North Island.
No significant rainfall is forecast until May.
Meanwhile, Civil Defence Minister Peeni Henare said the longer the extreme drought conditions continue, the greater the threat to water supplies that are already severely restricted in some places.
"Northland is particularly vulnerable with severe water restrictions already in place, a high number of people on water tanks, and significant areas of deprivation.
"We must act now to have the systems and support in place to assist communities already stressed by drought conditions and the associated water shortages,'' he said.
Today's spending announcement is in addition to some $2 million, from the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) which has been allocated for temporary water supplies for Kaitaia and Kaikohe.
The Defence Force is already in the process of carrying out deployments to help with essential water resupply through tanker trucks and crew.
 
 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.