At the same time, fires were breaking out in rural areas outside of Havelock North, such as one on Waimarama Rd last Friday, putting pressure on firefighting resources.
A resident of Tikokino himself for the last 16 years, he said there were a lot of people struggling with water shortages this summer.
"I have seen the Otane and Havelock North water tankers here at least two to three times a week - wells are going dry, but it's happening earlier. In the past it might have happened in March or April and this year they went dry in December."
Another Tikokino resident has kept daily rainfall records for the village for many years, which showed the amount of rain had decreased in the last 10 years from on average 1200mm a year to 800mm a year, he said.
It was no comfort to be told that the situation would come right again in winter.
"The issue is happening now, people need the water now."
For some years now the CHB District Council has subsidised the cost of tankered water, last year reducing the price to $3.50 per cubic metre to make it more affordable.
Mayor Alex Walker said she was aware of the difficulties people were having.
"The current situation in CHB needs to be improved - things are changing not only for people in places like Tikokino and Ongaonga having difficulties accessing water, but also people in rural areas.
"Part of my job is to support those people in the wider conversation about water, and stand alongside them and lobby for them where necessary."