A spokeswoman for a North Canterbury irrigation scheme says the plug will not be pulled on the project because part of the plan has been scuttled.

The Hurunui Water Project involves building a weir to dam water from the Hurunui River in order to irrigate about 42,000 hectares of farmland.

Lake Sumner would be used to store about a quarter of the proposed water take.

However, commissioners have indicated the project will not be approved.

Spokeswoman Amanda Loeffen says that will not the end of the plan and a resource consent is still under notification which involves taking water from the south branch of the river.

The board is meeting at the end of the week to consider appealing the Lake Sumner decision.

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Winegrowers are bracing for lower profits this year, with supermarkets pushing down wine prices.

Stuart Smith, chairman of New Zealand Winegrowers, says the industry has to get its house in order .

He says they should only produce the amount of wine they can sell under their own label and leave the rest of the grapes on the vines.

Mr Smith says retailers buying wine in bulk and repackaging it under their own brand has pushed the price down.

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A rural town in southern Hawkes Bay has a new life saver for the area.

A defibrillator has been given to the Te Uri Rural Fire Force, which protects a large area 35 kilometres south east of Dannevirke.

On one occasion there was a three hour delay before an ambulance could reach an emergency in the area.