A quarter of the country is considered to be still in drought by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Some areas, such as Gisborne, Wairoa and Hawkes Bay are experiencing their third year of drought in a row.
Other regions, including North Canterbury, Taihape and Wairarapa, have been battling with drought conditions for the past two years.
Phil Journeaux, from the ministry's adverse events committee, says although all those areas have had reasonable rainfall during the past month and pasture looks green, it has not been enough to call off the drought declaration.
There has been little pasture growth in the cold weather, and farms may not have sufficient feed until well into spring, he says.
