2008 Wairarapa drought
A meeting in Masterton on 5 March 2008 formed a committee in response to the current drought, which the Greater Wellington Regional Council says is one of the worst in many decades.
GW's Chair Fran Wilde, who convened the meeting, said that, based on Australian definitions, the present situation was a "serious drought" and that a concerted response was required to help the rural community in the short and medium term.