Farmers hope rain predicted to start in parts of the country on Monday will give them one last chance to grow feed for the winter.
The entire North Island and the West Coast of the South Island remain in an official state of drought.
MetService predicts heavy falls for parts of the North Island and Nelson throughout the coming week.
The agency says a deep low will begin passing over the country on Monday, bringing significant falls to the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and northwest parts of Nelson on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Moderate rain is also expected in Waikato, Auckland and Northland, but not enough to break the drought there.
Federated Farmers said the rain will be particularly welcome in Bay of Plenty.
