Listen Now: 
A Tai Tokerau organic farmer says Māori farmers are trying to help each other, but water shortages are making the situation critical across the whole region.
Northland was one of the first regions to have a drought declared, with Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay also now officially designated while Manawatu, Rangitikei and Wairarapa likely to follow soon.
Percy Tipene says the soil has completely dried out.
“You know it’s like the crackling when you eat the pig. It gets hard and crusty. It’s not even palatable or anything. Even the gardens are finding it difficult to produce produce from them,” he says.
Percy Tipene says modern pasture species have shrivelled up and only older species like kikuyu, some ryes and weeds are still evident.
Copyright © 2013, Uma Broadcasting Ltd
RELATED NEWS
