Growers in country’s North Island face more heavy rainfall, raising concerns three years after Cyclone Gabrielle devastated 4,000ha of orchards
Fruit producers in New Zealand have been put on alert as storms continue to hit the country’s North Island.
According to local reports, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms were recorded across the region, with more expected at the weekend.
This has prompted orange weather warnings to be in place for much of the island, including the Coromandel Peninsula and parts of the Bay of Plenty.
Three years ago, Cyclone Gabrielle precipitated widespread flooding that caused serious damage to around 4,000ha of apple orchards in Hawke’s Bay and affected almost half of its crop.
The NZ Herald reported on Friday afternoon that the region was braced for more than two days of intense rainfall, “with a high chance of being upgraded to a warning”.
Tairāwhiti Gisborne in the Bay of Plenty apparently faces the highest forecast rain, with up to 200mm expected.
An earlier forecast issued by New Zealand Apples & Pears suggested Tairāwhiti’s apple growers could break the 1mn-carton mark for the first time this season.
