The Southland Regional Council has delayed moving to the next phase of its water shortage response plan.
Authorities fear the province is heading for a full-blown drought after the driest December on record and barely any rainfall so far in January.
Much of Southland had only 3% of its usual rainfall for December leaving the main rivers - Oreti, Mataura and Aparima - very low.
However, rain has been forecast for Wednesday night and Thursday.
Council communications officer Sam McKnight says a meeting was held on Wednesday afternoon to assess whether to convene a special group with representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Federated Farmers and Maori. It was decided to hold off for 24 hours.
The regional council will meet again on Thursday afternoon to decide when the water response group will be convened.
Invercargill City Council has banned all unattended hoses and garden sprinklers.
Dry summer seminars
Dairy New Zealand will hold seven dry summer seminars throughout Southland on Thursday to advise farmers how manage their way through the dry spell.
Dairy NZ Southland consultant Chris Crossley says the seminars will offer practical advice, including when to reduce milking to once a day.
Federated Farmers spokesperson for adverse events David Rose, who farms sheep and beef in Central Southland, says some farmers have been forced to sell lambs to farms in other parts of the country and dairy farmers to reduce their milking.
He says the early start to the dry season has meant winter feed crops such as swede and kale barely got established and the situation is concerning, given that February is the region's driest month.
