Water resources review for summer (December - February)
River flows
River flows were near or above normal over most of the North Island, apart from Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay, which were drier than normal. In the South Island, flows varied from near normal in the northwest, to below normal in the eastern foothills, to far above normal in Otago and Southland.
[Water resources information provided by NIWA field teams, regional and district councils, and hydropower companies.]
Groundwater levels
Groundwater levels in New Zealand typically began their seasonal decline over the summer period. Levels were generally average for the time of year, but the rainfall in December in the south and west of the South Island meant that levels did not decline as much as would be expected in a normal summer.
| Region | Groundwater level status |
|---|---|
| Northern North Island | Below average |
| Eastern North Island | Average |
| Western North Island | Average |
| Northern South Island | Average |
| Eastern South Island | Average |
| South and West South Island | Above average |
[Water resources information provided by NIWA field teams, regional and district councils, and hydropower companies.Groundwater information supplied by the Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences.]