Light rain over the past 24 hours has given farmers and other water users in Tasman a reprieve from further water restrictions.
A 20% cut was introduced on Monday, but the district's dry weather taskforce has decided to delay a further reduction in water use for irrigation and garden hosing for at least a week.
The hills behind Richmond have received about 40mm of rain, the first significant fall for at least a month.
Although only 7mm or 8mm has fallen on the Waimea Plains, the taskforce says it has been enough to boost river flows.
