A Maori organic beef farmer in the Bay of Islands says his biggest concern with the on-going drought is the drying up of creeks, not feed for animals.
The farms at Motatau have 235 breeding cows, three bulls and several steers.
Te Waka Kai Ora chairperson Percy Tipene says he has been able to manage the drought by regularly moving the animals to different paddocks.
He says his animals have adapted to the drought conditions.
Mr Tipene says the cows are feeding from beneath large canopies of bush and the native plants appear to be keeping the animals healthy, although this is being closely monitored.
He says having to pump water from other streams will prove costly for his operation.
