Locking in good habits now will help residents avoid water restrictions later on, the Far North council says. Photo / FNDC
Northlanders are being urged to lock in good water habits now, before water treatment plants are pushed to their limits.
The Far North District Council’s Water Shortage Management Committee (WSMC) said water restrictions over the next few months will depend less on drought risk and more on how residents and visitors use water.
The committee members makes recommendations for water restrictions based on the latest water flow and consumption data, and the water-take consent levels set by Northland Regional Council.
The committee said simple habits like catching rainwater, limiting outdoor use and keeping showers short can help ease pressure on treatment plants and “lessen the need to apply restrictions that protect our water sources”.
Far North District Council head of infrastructure Tanya Proctor said the west coast is generally more vulnerable to dry spells, and high visitor numbers in peak season can make the demand unpredictable.
She said every summer season is different and the demands placed on water treatment plants can vary depending on a range of factors that can increase the demand for water in the district.
“An influx of tourists is one example of this. A dry winter heading into the summer season can also be a factor.”
Proctor said water-take consent levels were set by Northland Regional Council to protect water sources (rivers, streams and bores) in the Far North.
She explained the need for water restrictions arose when the water-take consent levels set by the regional council were reached.
“Some water supplies are more vulnerable than others to fluctuating flow levels.”
Proctor said the Hokianga streams, for example, were small and could drop quickly in dry weather.
“Another example is in Paihia, where the treatment plant often operates for 23 hours a day during the peak tourist season.”
The different levels set by the regional council trigger Level 2, 3 and 4 water restrictions.
The district council usually gave the public a heads-up about an increase in water restrictions on a Friday, with new limits taking effect the following Monday.
The staged levels act as an early warning, encouraging people to be mindful of water use.
“This measured approach is to ensure that the public is aware of the need to conserve water before the situation becomes dire,” Proctor said.
But if required, water restrictions could be put in place immediately.
Proctor said that because of the high volume of visitors in the Far North over the summer months, some aspects of demand for water and its use could be hard to predict.
However, the Water Shortage Management Committee met regularly, as conditions required, so any changes in the level of water flows could be responded to immediately.
Council contractor Ventia is continuing lead detection work across the district, with a focus this summer on Ōpononi, Paihia and Kawakawa.
Earlier this year, water restrictions were in place in parts of the district, including Ōpononi, Kawakawa, Moerewa, Paihia and Kerikeri.
There are currently no restrictions across the region but residents are asked to use water sensibly.
Despite the caution, the overall outlook is steady for Northland.
Northland Regional Council’s latest hydrology report showed a low risk of drought conditions developing in the region over the next three months.
Rainfall from November to January 2026 is predicted to be “near average” or “elevated”.
River flow catchments were generally “normal” through October.
Groundwater levels in Northland’s key aquifers were primarily “above normal” to “normal”.
Soil moisture levels are about normal for this time of year.
NRC group manager for regulatory services Colin Dall said Northland can experience prolonged periods of dry weather in various areas.
He said when analysing environment data, it can be very difficult to detect the impacts of climate change.
Council’s Hydrology Scientist recently completed analysis on rainfall patterns in Northland over the last 20 years.
“The finding indicates in the last nine years from 2015-2024, droughts have been less frequent in Northland, but more severe. In addition to drought, storms show a similar trend, fewer storms, but an increase in intensity. Council has a project underway with Earth Science NZ to assess storm rainfall patterns and the type of flood risk different storms pose to Northland.”
He said people that rely on rainfall tank water should always conserve their water supply during the summer.
“Particulalry if they have small water tanks and/or are hosting visitors during holiday periods.” “Coastal towns that rely on groundwater for their water supply are particularly vulnerable because the groundwater resource isn’t being recharged (topped up) by rainfall. This is worse in those towns that have higher tourist or holidaymaker populations in summer, such as Russell.”
Earth Sciences NZ is forecasting spells of unusually warm weather for Northland, including at night, as summer progresses. Soil moisture levels are likely to be below normal and river flows are equally likely to be near normal or below normal.