The first Targeted Riparian Management Course since 2015 was held for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council staff in Napier over two days in late February 2022.There were 12 Hawke’s Bay Regional Council staff on the course with a background in physical geography, looking to increase their knowledge around stream ecosystems.

This resulted in moderate to large soil moisture decreases across nearly the entire North Island, with the exception of parts of Gisborne and northern Hawke’s Bay. The driest soils across the North Island, when compared to normal for this time of the year, are found across much of Northland, Auckland, northern Waikato, interior Bay of Plenty, and East Cape, while the wettest soils for this time of the year are found in Kāpiti Coast and Wairarapa.

As of 25 January, the New Zealand Drought Index (NZDI) map below shows that dry conditions are now located across nearly all of the upper North Island, Bay of Plenty, parts of Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay. In addition, very dry or extremely dry conditions are located in much of Northland, Auckland, and Waikato, while a small area of meteorological drought has emerged in northwest Northland.

During the past week, the former hotspot located in Wairarapa dissipated, but new hotspots formed in southern Northland, northern Auckland, a small area near Whakatāne, and southern Hawke’s Bay. The New Zealand Drought Index (NZDI) map below shows that dry and very dry conditions are now located in Wairarapa as of 8 December.

Hotspots are currently in place in much of Northland, parts of Auckland, northern Waikato and a small portion of East Cape, while hotspots have strengthened in eastern Wairarapa and expanded to include the eastern Tararua District and coastal Hawke’s Bay. The New Zealand Drought Index (NZDI) map below shows that meteorological drought and severe meteorological drought are in place in the northern half of the Far North District.

In the North Island, many locations received moderate to substantial rainfall amounts ranging between about 30-60 mm, including much of Northland, Waikato, Taranaki, Gisborne, and Hawke’s Bay. Meanwhile, amounts less than 30 mm were observed across eastern Northland, Auckland, Manawatu-Whanganui, and Wairarapa.

Meanwhile, the wettest soils for this time of the year are located from Manawatu-Whanganui to Hawke’s Bay. Despite the general drying of soils during the past week, no hotspots are currently found across the North Island.

Despite this, soil moisture levels generally decreased slightly during the past week, particularly in the Far North and from Waikato to Hawke’s Bay. The driest soils across the North Island, when compared to normal for this time of the year, are generally found in the northern half of the island along with Wairarapa, while the wettest soils for this time of the year are located in Kapiti Coast.

The New Zealand Drought Index ( ) shows severe meteorological drought is widespread across Northland, Auckland, and northern Waikato.The summer of 2012-13 featured one of the worst droughts in decades for parts of Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay, and the western South Island.

With the anticipated rainfall in the upcoming week, little or no change in soil moisture levels are expected from the south Waikato northbound, along with parts of southern Hawke’s Bay and coastal Wairarapa, while the rest of the North Island are expected to experience slight soil moisture increases.

Dr Longley said concentrations started rising last Tuesday and Wednesday and by Thursday they were three to four times higher than normal across Auckland, Northland, Waikato, Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay. In summer particulate matter levels in New Zealand towns and cities are typically 10-20 micrograms per cubic metre.

Hotspots in the North Island are currently found in Aupouri Peninsula, interior Manawatu-Whanganui, and interior Hawke’s Bay. In the South Island, only subtle soil moisture changes were observed in the past week.

Conversely, the lower east coast and the far south (including Hawke’s Bay, coastal Wairarapa and Wellington) saw a soil moisture increase due to rainfall totals above average for the time of year.

However, hotspots remain in place across western Northland and Aupouri Peninsula, a small portion of central Waikato, southern Manawatu-Whanganui, and much of Wairarapa and southern Hawke’s Bay. In the South Island, soil moisture levels generally did not change significantly in the past week.

The wettest soils for this time of the year are located in parts of Gisborne, eastern Bay of Plenty and southern coastal Hawke’s Bay. Areas deemed hotspots have expanded over the past week.

With the rainfall amounts anticipated in the next week, additional soil moisture improvements are likely parts of the central and eastern North Island with the greatest potential for soil moisture increase from the eastern Bay of Plenty through to the Hawke’s Bay regions, particularly in the higher terrain.