This period saw well below average rainfall for much of the region.
Between September 2012 and March 2013, only 39 per cent of normal rainfall was recorded in Napier, and 47 per cent of normal rainfall in Ongaonga.
Wairoa was a bit better off, with 68 per cent of normal rainfall.
In 2013 the government was called in to assist Hawke's Bay farmers to avoid complete devastation and it was announced to be the driest summer in 50 years.
Tax breaks for farmers breeding stock in the financial year and access to bank drought zone packages which included overdraft options were given out as relief.
Practical support also came from shipments of hay from the South Island but this didn't stop farmers reducing stock and selling stock at below the average prices.
Farmers had to dry off cattle early and the stock feed situation remained low in drought-ridden areas.
The price of feed also significantly dropped.
The dry conditions meant that in June 2013 the economic costs due to the 2012-13 drought across the North Island and Westland were estimated at more than $1.6 billion.
Coming in at third place was the sustained dry period in 1982-1983, which also created havoc.
Sheep and beef farmers had to buy in supplement feed, which again proved to be costly.
Looking to the present, Ms Fedaeff said the soil moisture was currently well below average and lower than the last two years, which was concerning.
"For drought you need this dryness to persist, so what happens next is really important.
"Certainly in the near future, meaningful rainfall over the next two weeks is looking quite unlikely."
