River crossings are the second-highest direct cause of tramper fatalities, behind falls.
More rain is thankfully forecast later this week.
Conditions were too bad for a search on Monday night.
"There is a massive and critical lack of feed, and some farmers are in dire situations, mentally exhausted and trying to keep stock alive."
Funding of $1 million will be divided between thousands of Hawke's Bay farmers struggling with one of the worst droughts in a century.
Growers say the hot and dry summer produced pristine-condition fruit.
Farmers in parched regions of the country say the rain that has fallen over the past 24 hours is a small reprieve - but it's no drought breaker.
The rain was too patchy to make a real difference.
"It's not going to be nice for a lot of people."
Police arrested 16 on Tuesday and seized about $1 million in assets.
The funding follows a similar package earlier this month.
The news will be particularly tough to hear for those in Hawke's Bay.
Many in the farming community were disappointed that last week's Budget did not allocate any money specifically for water-related projects.
"Our region is used to managing dry conditions, yet this drought is particularly prolonged and severe."
"How do you select ten people to say their final goodbye and tell others they cannot?"
Hawke's Bay farmers have said they're under huge pressure as they deal with bare paddocks, hungry stock and limited supplementary feed.
"I want farmers to talk and if it means getting naked, it means getting naked."
Occasional rain has done nothing to dent the real problem.
"We must support our primary producers and keep our people in jobs."
"It will come down to determining whose negligence and culpability lead to these deaths."
