Wairarapa farmers will need to adapt as the area becomes hotter and drier over the next 70 years. (Photo \ Getty Images)

Climate change predicted to have devastating impact on NZ farmers

Author: Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2017, 5:52AM

Climate change is predicted to have potentially devastating consequences for both the east and west coast of the lower North Island.

In the wake of a NIWA climate change report predicting more droughts for the Wairarapa, there is a call for rule changes to make it easier for farmers to store water.

The report predicts spring rainfall on the east coast will reduce by up to 15 percent and overall temperatures will rise by three degrees, with autumn warming the most.

Wairarapa farmers will need to adapt as the area becomes hotter and drier over the next 70 years.

South Wairarapa Deputy Mayor Brian Jephson said they need to get smarter around conserving winter water for stock water and irrigation.

“It’s going to be a challenge to regional councils, they have to look at the laws around this and how to make it easier for farmers to build these dams.”

South Wairarapa Mayor Viv Napier said water storage options will be looked at, but there is already some irrigation in the area.

“But also farming practices probably need to change too, and maybe there’s better ways of doing it with the water that they’ve got now.”

While the Wairarapa prepares for drought, the west coast is facing the opposite problem – more rain.

Kapiti Coast mayor K Gurunathan said the region needs a plan to deal with the predicted 15 percent increase in rainfall and extreme weather events over the next 70 years.

Gurunathan said there are currently around 4500 flood prone properties in the district, so the report’s new information will help with risk analysis and detailed work on specific areas.

“Then we’re going to make serious political judgments on adaptation strategies. What are we going to do where, how soon, and who’s going to pay for it. Big issues.”

Gurunathan is calling for more government help to develop climate change strategies.

“We need designs for the planners to be able to come and be able to make the right decisions. So this is not just local authorities having to deal with this, because this is an expensive and litigatious issue. We need help.”