Nueva Zelanda: North Island s carrot and potato supply saved by rain

Horizons Regional Council’s Ruapehu councillor Bruce Rollinson, a vegetable grower based at Ohakune, said on Wednesday the North Island’s main supply of carrots, potatoes, parsnip, brussels sprouts and swede were at risk if they did not get rain.

The flow on the Mangawhero stream – where the growers take water from – was expected to drop below a minimum standard. That would have meant they could not wash their vegetables and send them out for distribution.

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Rollinson said the stream had been expected to dip below the minimum flow of 1020 litres per second. However some welcome rain overnight saw that climb up to 1300 litres per second.

"I went to sleep last night with the sound of rain on the roof, it was very soothing."

Rollinson said his crop of brussels sprouts would be able to make it out for distribution.

"I’m not sure too many teenage children are going to like me."

He estimated that about 60 jobs could have been put on hold had it not rained.

Rollinson said not a lot of rain had fallen in Ohakune; "but it must have rained quite heavy on the mountain, which is where the stream originates."

He said the forecast was looking promising.

"So I’m pretty confident we are out of the trouble that we found ourselves in yesterday."

Despite the infrequency of the risk, Rollinson said they might have to look at mitigation options.

"We don’t want to be relying on the heavens so to speak."

MetService Meteorologist Tom Adams said the mountains saw most of the rainfall overnight, getting more than 30 millimetres. The towns of Ohakune and Waiouru only saw 5mm and 3mm respectively by comparison.

Adams said a series of fronts were heading up the country with more rain on the way.