Water carriers in Northland yet to feel pinch of summer

It's been an easy start to the summer for water carriers across the region.

Frank Veldhuizen from Kaikohe Water Supply The Waterboys said there had been quite a bit of rain in the last few weeks which has kept people's tanks topped up.

He covers the Kaikohe and Hokianga areas and said he is delivering a couple of loads a day, but usually he would be busier.

"This time last year we were quite hectic. You look around and the paddocks are still green."

He is expecting demand to pick up as summer continues.

James Kiff of Kerikeri Water Supplies said business was just steady, where as last year it was "crazy" with a four-day wait for customers.

He felt it would be two or three weeks before demand starts to kick in.

Mr Kiff said he, too, had a few loads and some inquiries every day but no backlog.

He thought some of those deliveries were precautionary, where people had learnt from last year.

Simon Reid, who runs Always Wet Household Water Deliveries in Maungatapere, said it has also been business as usual for him so far.

"We're not run off our feet."

He said the weather seems to be helping everybody.

"If we don't get rain to follow on from this weekend, January could dry up."

In the Far North, Opononi, Omapere, Rawene and Okaihau are on level-two water restrictions, which means residents and businesses connected to the council water supply are not allowed to use automatic garden sprinklers, and hoses must be hand-held.