Farmers on the east coast of the country have been given an extra $900,000 in funding support as dry conditions continue.
Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor said the money would be used to ensure feed support services can continue and extra wellbeing assistance is available to more farmers affected by the drought.
"Autumn has got off to an extremely dry start in multiple regions along the east coast of the country," O'Connor said.
"Forecast rainfall is not expected to be enough to allow parched soils and pastures time to recover before winter."
He said the current large-scale adverse event classification had now been expanded to include Mid-Canterbury, South Canterbury and Otago.
"Support for the Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Wellington and Tasman regions, and the Manawatū-Rangitīkei, Tararua and Nelson areas, will remain in place until 30 June 2021, when it will be reviewed.
"The Taranaki region, and the Ruapehu and Whanganui districts, have received good rainfall and soil moisture levels have recovered."
The Ministry for Primary Industries said it would be working with industry organisations, councils and rural support trusts to monitor the impacts of the dry conditions and assess the need for additional support.
