Southland Federated Farmers

25/10/2026

Labour need to abandon David Parker's unworkable and unaffordable freshwater rules that would pull the handbrake on New Zealand's economy.

25/10/2026

24/10/2026

**UPDATE** 8:50PM, Mon 26 Oct 2026

Evening folks

👉MetService have advised the weather warnings and watch that were in place for Fiordland, Southland and Stewart Island have been lifted and are no longer in force.

For the latest weather forecasts:
https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home
For State Highway Information:
https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/southland
Invercargill City Council Southland District Council Gore District Council Environment Southland
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**UPDATE** 9:25AM, Mon 26 Oct 2026

Morning folks

A further update from MetService on the weather warnings and watch in place for Southland.

👉The overall situation remains unchanged; however, the warning period, forecast rainfall totals and expected wind gusts have been updated.

🟠Heavy Rain Warning - Orange🟠
Area: Fiordland
Period: 11hrs from 9:00am Mon to 8:00pm Mon
Forecast: Expect 160 to 210 mm of rain in addition to what has already fallen. Peak rates of 25 to 35 mm/h expected this afternoon and evening.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Impact: Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.
Action: Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously.

🟠Strong Wind Warning - Orange🟠
Area: Fiordland, Southland and Stewart Island
Period: 10hrs from 9:00am Mon to 7:00pm Mon
Forecast: Severe gale northwest winds with damaging gusts of 130 km/h in exposed places.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Impact: Damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures possible. Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.
Action: Prepare your property by securing items that can be picked up by strong winds. Drive cautiously.

🟡Heavy Rain Watch - Yellow🟡
Area: The Queenstown Lakes District away from the headwaters, also Southland and Stewart Island
Period: 10hrs from 1:00pm Mon to 11:00pm Mon
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain. Amounts may approach warning criteria, mainly about the ranges.
Note, rain spreading north this afternoon, then easing about Stewart Island this afternoon and over the mainland from evening.
Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.

Keep up to date with all weather forecasts here:
https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home
For State Highway Information:
https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/southland
Invercargill City Council Southland District Council Gore District Council Environment Southland
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**UPDATE** 8:35PM, Sun 25 Oct 2026

Evening folks

A further update from MetService on the weather warnings and watch in place for Southland.

👉Situation
An active front, preceded by a very strong northwest flow, moves over the South Island during Monday and early Tuesday morning, then over the North Island later Tuesday. This front is forecast to bring a period of heavy rain to western and southern areas, and severe northwest gales to exposed places. Please keep up to date with forecasts.

🟠Heavy Rain Warning - Orange🟠
Area: Fiordland
Period: 18 hours from 2:00am Mon 26 Oct to 8:00pm Mon 26 Oct
Forecast: Expect 220 to 260 mm of rain. Peak rates of 25 to 35 mm/h expected Monday afternoon and evening.
Low chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Impact: Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.
Action: Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously.

🟠Strong Wind Warning - Orange🟠
Area: Fiordland, Southland and Stewart Island
Period: 13 hours from 6:00am Mon 26 Oct to 7:00pm Mon 26 Oct
Forecast: Severe gale northwest winds gusting 120 km/h in exposed places.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Impact: Damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures possible. Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.
Action: Prepare your property by securing items that can be picked up by strong winds. Drive cautiously.

🟡Heavy Rain Watch - Yellow🟡
Area: The Queenstown Lakes District away from the headwaters, also Southland and Stewart Island
Period: 10 hours from 1:00pm Mon 26 Oct to 11:00pm Mon 26 Oct
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain. Amounts may approach warning criteria, mainly about the ranges.
Note, rain spreading north during Monday afternoon, then easing from the south from evening.
Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.

Keep up to date with all weather forecasts here:
https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home
For State Highway Information:
https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/southland
Invercargill City Council Southland District Council Gore District Council Environment Southland
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Morning folks

An update from MetService on the wind and rain coming to Southland, and other parts of the country, over the next few of days.

👉Situation
An active front, preceded by a very strong northwest flow, moves over the South Island during Monday and early Tuesday morning, then over the North Island later Tuesday. This front is forecast to bring a period of heavy rain to western and southern areas, and severe northwest gales to exposed places. Please keep up to date with forecasts.

🟠Heavy Rain Warning - Orange🟠
Area: Fiordland
Period: 19hrs from 2:00am Mon to 9:00pm Mon
Forecast: Expect 210 to 260 mm of rain. Peak rates of 25 to 35 mm/h expected Monday afternoon and evening.
Low chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Impact: Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.
Action: Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously.

🟠Strong Wind Warning - Orange🟠
Area: Fiordland, Southland and Stewart Island
Period: 12hrs from 8:00am Mon to 8:00pm Mon
Forecast: Severe gale northwest winds gusting 120 km/h in exposed places.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Impact: Damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures possible. Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.
Action: Prepare your property by securing items that can be picked up by strong winds. Drive cautiously.

🟡Heavy Rain Watch - Yellow🟡
Area: The Queenstown Lakes District away from the headwaters, also Southland and Stewart Island
Period: 10hrs from 1:00pm Mon to 11:00pm Mon
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain. Amounts may approach warning criteria, mainly about the ranges.
Note, rain spreading north during Monday afternoon, then easing from the south from evening.
Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.

Keep up to date with all weather forecasts here:
https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home
For State Highway Information:
https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/southland
Invercargill City Council Southland District Council Gore District Council Environment Southland

21/10/2026

16/10/2026

𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵

National’s pledge to introduce 19 new national standards shows the party is serious about getting Wellington out of farming, Federated Farmers says.

"Introducing new national standards to make everyday farming activities a permitted activity will unlock farming’s potential," Federated Farmers president Colin Hurst says.

"It will cut unnecessary cost and complexity, give farmers the confidence we need to get on with the business of farming, and help grow New Zealand’s export-led economy.

"That’s why this policy sat at the top of our priority list for the incoming Government. We think it has the most potential to help transform our primary sector."

Federated Farmers released Backing Kiwi Farmers, a five-point plan to double farm productivity, cut costs and improve the environment, in June this year.

"We asked for 10 national standards but National have gone even further, announcing 19 new national standards for farming to help grow our economy," Hurst says.

"This is going to be transformational for our primary sector, but it will also help everyday Kiwi families who are struggling with the cost of living.

"Farm production barriers and costs ultimately flow through to the cost of food on our supermarket shelves - especially fresh fruits and vegetables.

"This isn’t just a plan for farming; it’s a plan to grow the economy, grow our exports, and help New Zealanders get ahead."

Permitted activity standards aren’t simply a licence to do whatever a farmer wants. They set a clear benchmark farmers must meet to ensure protection for the environment.

"If those standards are met and you’re farming within the guardrails, you can just get on with the job," Hurst says.

"It means you don’t have all the unnecessary cost, complexity, uncertainty and delays that come with jumping through bureaucratic resource consenting hoops."

National’s 19 national standards build on work already done to reform New Zealand’s resource management system.

"This is going to be what paves the way for farmers to double the value of agricultural exports to $106 billion by 2034," Hurst says.

"We’ve sent the Government a consistent message that if they want to grow the economy, they just need to get out of the way and let farmers get on with it.

"They need to let us do what we do best: innovating, investing and increasing the production to really drive export growth and lift New Zealand’s standard of living."

Federated Farmers' proposed national standards included Farm Plans, vegetable growing, on-farm water storage, gravel extraction, drain maintenance, effluent management, fertiliser application, farm quarries, wetland restoration, and small and medium-scale solar.

The National Party has added micro-hydro, irrigation, energy storage, small-scale seasonal worker accommodation, farm tracks, agricultural aviation, culverts, offal holes and managing contaminated soils.

"This is an incredibly positive announcement that sets a clear vision and ambition for farming and growing in New Zealand," Hurst says.

"With these standards replacing the need for consents, farmers can spend more time and money on growing their businesses and less on unnecessary bureaucracy."