Rotorua farmers face big losses after dumping thousands of litres of milk as a result of a serious gas-pipe rupture that has forced the closure of milk plants.
Fonterra advised farmers on Tuesday that their milk would not be collected after the company was told by energy supplier Vector not to operate gas machinery because of a gas leak, forcing it to shut down its milk plants.
A pipeline linking the Maui gas field to the upper North Island had to be closed when a gas leak was discovered in the remote White Cliffs area. As a result, Fonterra closed all but two of its processing plants north of Taupo.
All industrial gas users in the upper North Island, including hospitals, restaurants, power stations and universities, have been urged to halt gas consumption.
Oturoa Rd dairy farmer Tina Dibley and sharemilker David Ingram told The Daily Post they were "absolutely gutted" about the situation.
Ms Dibley, 26, said she felt that milking 600 cows was all for nothing. In one day they dumped 14,000 litres of milk, worth about $9000.
"It's a bit of shame," she said.
Mr Ingram said it was hard to take. "It's gut-wrenching. It's unbelievable," he said.
Farm owner Sophie Dibley said there was little they could do.
"We just have to use best practice to dump it."
Kaharoa farmer Lachlan McKenzie said his milk, about $8000 worth a day, was going straight into effluent ponds.
The gas leak couldn't have come at a worse time for farmers, he said.
"We're just gutted. It's the peak of the season.
"We work bloody hard all year and this happens just because a gas worker doesn't maintain this gas pipe ... It's eye-watering."
It is estimated farmers nationwide are washing away about $20 million worth of milk a day.
Mr McKenzie said it would affect the entire community.
"It hurts everyone if we can't put milk powder on to containers and ships," he said.
Meanwhile, patients at Rotorua and Taupo hospitals have been asked to supply their own pyjamas as the Lakes District Health Board weathers the gas leak.
They have also been urged to take their own linen and pillows as well.
Board communications manager Sue Wilkie said beds might not be changed unless needed.
"We're also seeing what items we can use that are disposable, such as nappies.
"We've not been impacted in theatres and we've not cancelled any surgeries," she said.
Southern Cross QE Hospital general manager Philip Hanson said they had set up a contingency plan as soon as they heard about the leak, but it was business as usual.
The gas leak is also having an impact on tourists, with hotels and restaurants affected.
New Zealand Hotel Association Rotorua chairman Fraser McKenzie said the gas leak was affecting laundry washing, the provision of hot water and heating to rooms and Rotorua hotels were curtailing their gas use.
Hotels were improvising by switching their hot water to alternative heating systems.
"All hotels have contingency plans which have sprung into action.
"We are very fortunate in Rotorua because we have geothermal, which we can use to heat water."
While one Rotorua hotel was sending laundry to Hamilton to be handled, at least one other was cleaning and drying hotel laundry in the guest laundry, Mr McKenzie said.
"We've been very fortunate there has been no major disruption."
With flame-grilled burgers, fries and other cooking done by gas at both of Rotorua's Burger King stores, the fast-food outlets were closed yesterday.
Burger King spokesman Rachael Allison said half of the chain's stores in the upper North Island had closed.
"It's not just Rotorua affected," she said.
"We will have a significant revenue loss as a result."
Scion communications manager Cristl McMillan said diesel generators were providing the steam, temperature control and hot water needed in laboratories.