Milk management during collection disruptions caused by February weather event

If you are unable to have milk collected, please manage it in accordance with your farm dairy effluent resource consent conditions where possible. This may include discharging the milk to your effluent storage facilities or applying it to your driest paddocks to minimise the potential for ponding.
 
We understand that these situations can be challenging and appreciate your efforts to manage them responsibly. If you are unable to discharge milk to your effluent system, please contact Horizons’ Consents Monitoring Team on 0508 800 800 and ask for the Pollution Hotline. Our team will provide advice on suitable alternative management options.
 
Please note this guidance is intended to address the immediate issues relating to milk collection disruptions caused by flooding and road closures as a direct result of the February 2026 severe weather event in the Manawatū-Whanganui Region. It applies only to farms directly affected by this event.

Image: Flooding impacts on State Highway 56 at Ōpiki on the evening of Monday 16 February.