A drought this summer is looking unlikely as Niwa predicts a low chance of abnormal dry periods. Niwa forecaster Ben Noll said the long-term forecast predicted rainfall until January would be above average or average. It has alleviated the dry soil from last summer." Hawke's Bay Federated Farmers president, Will Foley, said they were pretty happy with the amount of moisture in the ground to date, especially in the lead-up to summer. Foley said with the periods of rain farmers have had and warmer temperatures they were expecting a good farming season.

Source: New Zealand Herald November 10, 2016 19:05 UTC