Media Release

20 January 2012

Irrigation bans coming back on

Bans on water takes for irrigation were lifted following the heavy rain at the New Year which boosted river and stream flows.

However the continuing warm, dry conditions since then have resulted in stream and river flows dropping quickly and yesterday Hawke’s Bay Regional Council placed water take bans back on the Maraekakaho and Raupere Streams.

The Maraekakaho Stream flow was assessed at 327 litres/second - the water take ban is for irrigators linked to the 350 litre/second minimum flow limit, while those on the 300 l/s limit are still on a warning.

The Raupere Stream was assessed at 504 l/s - the ban is for irrigators on the 549 minimum flow limit.

Warnings are still in place on all or parts of Sandy Creek, the Maraekakaho, Karewarewa, Poukawa, Mangateretere and Makaretu streams, and the Ngaruroro, Waipawa and Tukituki rivers.

Detailed information on flow gauging results and bans is kept updated on www.hbrc.govt.nz.
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