City dwellers are noticing the Big Dry on their doorstep as water restrictions and fire bans continue to be announced across the country.

Wellington

Wellington Council is imposing water restrictions and residents will be asked to save 30-40 litres of water a day from this weekend. That’s about three to four toilet flushes.Water is still expected to run out in three weeks if there isn’t significant rainfall.

Invercargill/Southland

A total fire ban has been enforced this morning for all of Southland and parts of the Clutha District covered by the Southern Rural Fire District.

The ban means that no-one can light any fires in the open and existing fire permits are suspended.

The fire ban also applies to all townships within the Southland District, Gore District and Invercargill City and also prohibits people in these towns from burning rubbish, using incinerators, hangis or or cooking outdoors with open braziers.

Drought sees Kiwi slip

The New Zealand dollar fell below 80 Australian cents for the first time since January as the drought across much of the North Island weighs on investors’ confidence in the local recovery, and as the Reserve Bank prepares to review monetary policy tomorrow.

WeatherWatch