Taranaki is the newest area trying to find relief from the drought following months of no significant rainfall.

The region's Federated Farmers branch has officially applied to the Government requesting it to classify the entire province as a drought zone.

This week the Waikato and Ruapehu areas got official declarations as being in a medium-level drought, joining the likes of Northland and north Auckland.

The lead of the meat and fire departments of Taranaki, Neville Wallace, opines that the dry weather conditions are especially not good for the hill country farms.

In the meanwhile, a few local authorities are cautioning the farmers and crop growers about the expected water restrictions to be put into force this summer.

According to the Southland Regional Council, the rivers and aquifers of the area already have waters at low levels and with the dry weather resuming, the irrigators and other significant consent holders might have to cut down upon or completely stop their water takes this summer.

According to the Manawatu-Whanganui region council, even the water tables all over its region are at low levels for this time of the year, and the restrictions will most probably be applied on the groundwater takes.