Dargaville has been under some form of water restriction since December 2024. Photo: Susan Botting, Local Democracy Reporter Northland
Strict water restrictions in Dargaville for the past month have been lifted, after last week's rain.
Level 4 restrictions, which ban all but essential water use, were imposed in the Northland town and the nearby coastal settlement of Baylys Beach on 11 March.
Kaipara District Council chief executive Jason Marris said steady rainfall in recent days had lifted water levels in the Kaihu River and Niwa predicted near-normal rainfall this month.
The Kaihu River provides raw water for Dargaville's water treatment plant.
Marris acknowledged Dargaville and Baylys Beach residents for their water-saving efforts during the past month, despite being under water restrictions of some form since December 2024.
During the 27 days level 4 was in place, residents reduced their daily water use by an average of 161,465 litres, compared to their water use under level 3.
This amounted to a saving of more than 4.3 million litres, almost enough to fill two Olympic-sized swimming pools.
"Everyone's efforts during these restrictions have made a massive difference," he said.
Frequent water restrictions have become a source of frustration in the town, with Dargaville Ratepayers and Residents Association chair Rose Dixon saying families were denied the "quintessential Kiwi summer" of fun in the backyard with a hose and water slide.
"I just don't think that's fair," she said, when level 3 restrictions, banning the use of outdoor hoses and sprinklers, imposed in December.
At the time, the council defended its failure to find a solution, citing the enormous cost of establishing a more resilient water supply and changing government policies on water that had thrown any plans into disarray.
By 2027, water shortages could be a thing of the past in Dargaville.
Last week, Minister Shane Jones announced a $17.5 million loan to Te Tai Tokerau Water Trust to build a 22km pipeline from its new Waihekeora Reservoir at Glinks Gully to Dargaville.
As well as providing a back-up water supply for the town and major users, such as the Silver Fern Farms processing plant, it would allow the flat land south of Dargaville to be converted to high-value horticulture.
The pipeline is expected to be completed in summer 2026/27.
Meanwhile, the Far North District Council is due to reconsider its restrictions at a meeting of its water shortage committee on Wednesday. A spokesman said any changes would likely be announced on Friday.
In the Far North, level 3 restrictions currently remain in place at Kawakawa, Moerewa, Rāwene, Ōmanaia, Ōpononi and Ōmāpere. Less severe level 2 restrictions are in place for Kaitāia, Kaikohe, Kerikeri, Waipapa, Paihia, Opua, Waitangi, and Ōkaihau.
Meanwhile, fire restrictions have also been eased in parts of Northland.
Acting Northland community risk manager Michael Champtaloup said, fromTuesday, fires were allowed again - but only with a permit - across most of Northland.
A total fire ban remained in the Muriwhenua fire district, which included the Aupōuri and Karikari peninsulas, and areas north of Kaitāia, as well as all islands and DOC land.
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