New Zealand is at present enjoying one of its hottest summers in decades - January was the driest and hottest on record. There is some concern that supplies of water in southern provinces are at the levels of late March and could create real problems for dairy farmers. Elsewhere in the country similar drought conditions are concerning farmers there. The shortage of feed is causing some farmers to sell off stock. The Government is expected to underwrite any imported stock food. Othe relief is also being considered. There was some relief from the drought today with heavy rain in Canterbury and other areas. Ten times that amount is needed, farmers said.
Compare the situation in the country just two winters ago:
Weather ’bomb’ over northern New Zealand causes havoc to domestic power supplies. Last week’s weather ’bomb’ over the northern part of New Zealand had some drastic affects on domestic power supplies; a week later and some people are still getting power supplies restored - almost third worldlike.
Food aid for power victims:
Hundreds of people are being offered generators, food, water or accommodation as Vector Energy struggles to restore power in the Auckland region after last week’s storm. Vector was last night unable to say when power would be restored, saying several of the affected homes were remote and needed specialist work to repair the lines. Most of those without power appeared to be on the North Shore and northwest Auckland, with around 140 homes affected. Does it concern anyone that the only people providing numbers is the electricity companies who have a vested interest in minimizing the extent of those without power?
The storm took everyone by surprise and it shows how vulnerable we are to climate change and the fierce storms it creates. The power companies told us on the weekend that there were only 140 homes without power, yet Auckland Civil Defence quoted 300 – I don’t think either have any real idea when the power will be on and they certainly aren’t being honest how many people are still in the dark, wait till the anger really starts at the end of the week and people start demanding answers. Hardship continues for some people.
New Zealand can be a country of extreme weather conditions, at times. What affects is climate change and global warming having on our weather, I wonder? After year of severe drought our close neighbours, Australia, have had some inclement weather of their own in recent weeks with storms and flooding especially in Queensland.
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Contributor's Note
A land of weather extremes at times.
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