Metropolitan Wellington to ease sprinkler ban, watering restrictions remain
From today, 31 March, the ban on using garden sprinklers in Wellington, Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt and Porirua is lifted.
The four cities have been under a sprinkler ban that was introduced in mid-February due to particularly dry conditions.
Thanks to the response from the community, and the change in season, the region’s storage lakes are now in good shape.
This means restrictions can now be eased to allow for the limited use of garden sprinklers and irrigation systems. This is a good position to be in, but it’s important that people keep being responsible with water usage.
Watering restrictions are still in place, these allow the use of a single sprinkler or irrigation system, between the hours of 6-8 am and 7-9pm only on alternate days according to your house number.
Sprinkler use is permitted at:
• odd-numbered houses on odd dates (1st, 3rd, 15th etc)
• even-numbered houses on even dates (2nd, 4th, 18th etc)
only between the hours of 6-8am and 7-9pm.
This restriction level will remain in place until further notice, or the end of Daylight Savings (5 April 2020) – except in Upper Hutt, where this restriction remains in place all year round.
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
What's your favourite tomato recipe?
Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.
Moe mai rā, Nicholas.
We're sad to announce the passing of Nicholas Boyack, our Hutt Valley reporter who has long written for The Dominion Post, The Hutt News and Upper Hutt Leader.