A lack of autumn rain in Hawke's Bay has forced the Hawke's Bay regional council to put a major river under an irrigation ban.
A fortnight ago the council banned farmers from using large quantities of water from parts of the Ngaruroro river, but a further drop in the flow rate has meant more bans in place from Friday.
Council spokesperson Susan Wylie says there are now bans on eight rivers and streams in the region and warnings on another eight.
Last month Hawke's Bay received 39% of the average rainfall recorded in March over the past 30 years.
