Water restrictions lifted in Waihi, Waikino

Water restrictions were lifted in Waihi and Waikino on Wednesday, though residents are urged to keep saving water where they can.

The Hauraki District Council said the lifting of the restrictions came after the "awesome water saving efforts of the two communities".

Parts of the region have seen the worst drought in decades recently, with farmers on the Hauraki Plains in particular struggling with the dry conditions.

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Although the restrictions have been lifted in Waihi and Waikino, water levels remain low.

"Recent rain sprinkles haven’t done much to lift local river levels and the dry weather looks set to continue throughout the rest of autumn and winter," the council said.

Earlier this week the Government announced a $500,000 funding package for drought-stricken farmers in north Waikato, as well as Northland, after the Minister of Agriculture received a letter from the mayors of Hauraki, Wiakato and Thames-Coromandel.

The Hauraki Plains, Coromandel Peninsula and eastern parts of south Auckland haven't had any meaningful rainfall in months, causing what some farmers have called a "snowball effect" for them.

Many farmers on the Hauraki Plains have banded together to help each other as much as possible through the tough times.