Truth and lies about drought and climate change in New Zealand

Five hours later and this has not appeared as an article on the Radio New Zealand website but was part of the 7 am news bulletin.

Firefighters warn climate change putting New Zealand at greater risk of large fires 

New Zealand is unprepared for more frequent drought, report warns

Sea temps surprisingly pleasant over the past week, as marine heatwave continues

Summer scorcher: Tasman Sea a 'bath with the hot tap on'

Stuff

30 November, 2018

More drought could bring disease, power outages and food shortages and New Zealand isn't ready, a new report warns.

Although the country has historically been "water-rich", New Zealand is not well-prepared to cope with a future involving more drought in some areas.

Kiwi households could be at increased risk of disease due to a water-shortage induced lack of hygiene, the report says.

The country could also face shortages of fruit and vegetables, interruptions to electricity supply, more frequent watering bans and higher prices – or the introduction of water charges – in some areas.

The report raised several questions for further research, one of which has already developed into a project aims to understand the future of drought for New Zealand.

It's a big task but project leader Wageed Kamish from environmental and engineering consultancy Tonkin and Taylor says it is achievable.

SUPPLIED

New Zealand has historically been "water-rich" but the country is not well-prepared to cope with a future involving more drought, a new report says.

"Niwa, our project partner, has already completed a considerable amount of work on climate change projections and these will provide a good platform from which to start," he said.

"Although it is true that farmers and rural communities normally experience the full effects of a drought, we don't have to look much further than the recent Day Zero scenario in Cape Town to realise that urban areas can also be affected by droughts." 

Cape Town, South Africa's second-largest city, was predicted to run out of water in April this year.   

Facing its worst drought in a century, the city of four million cut its water usage by nearly half and narrowly avoided becoming the first major city in the world to run completely dry.

Kamish said as New Zealand's climate changed, water supply systems would have to be adapted accordingly.

"[That] may include new sources, new technologies, increased storage capacity and better management of water usage.

"In parallel, we need to carefully manage the quality of existing and potential sources now, so as not to jeopardise them for future use," he said.

"The primary key to this is that we adapt our water systems well enough in advance to avoid a Day Zero scenario.

"Adaptation may take several years, so in many cases the planning process needs to start right now."

SUPPLIED

Increased drought could lead to higher prices for water – or the introduction of water charges – in some places.

The report was produced as a result of a Deep South Dialogue, run by Motu Economic and Public Policy Research.

The dialogue brought together researchers and sector representatives to map current knowledge about how drought will impact New Zealand as the climate changes, and to identify critical knowledge gaps that need to be filled if the country is to adapt.

For example, the report suggested New Zealanders needed a better understanding of the likely incidence of multi-regional drought, and the likely nationwide changes in drought incidence.

How future droughts might affect water supply and demand – particularly for the local food production sector, which competes for water with other users – and the impact on vulnerable communities also needed to be looked at.

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Instead, like Soviet citizens in the 70's we have to read, Pravda-like between the lines.

Except that no one is capable of that.

Napier water restrictions in place from Monday

Napier residents will have to cut back on their sprinkler and hose use from Monday.

The city council has moved to level two water restrictions, because demand has increased sharply over the past few days.

Hoses and sprinklers can only be used between 6am and 8am, and 7pm and 9pm, it said.

And even that use will be restricted to even numbered houses on even-number dates, and to odd numbered houses on odd-numbered date.

Lies, lies and statistics

Between the above and my own observations at the bottom of the North Island I can say I simply DO NOT BELIEVE this data from NIWA which shows everything as 'normal',more or less.

The unreported marine heatwave

Earlier (a couple of months ago) NZ media mentioned the marine heatwave at a time when it was much, much less serious.

Now the Tasman is warming up rapidly, (and this is noticeable week-after-week) and nothing is being reported

When I looked this is all that I could find about this that does not date back to November. Even if NIWA employees are forced to remain silent officially it appears they can tweet about thngs.

@BenNollWeather

"Above average, yet very refreshing"

Very nice!  A pity about the fish that cannot adapt to such changes any more than koalas and bats can adapt to unprecedented heatwaves n Australia.

This is how things looked back in November.

And (from a different source) from November, 2018 - 13 months ago.

Instead this is what the media CAN talk about over the holiday season

Hip Hop brawls, 

Kiwi woman fetish photos

WWE naked photo scandals