A challenging time for Northland firefighters who've had to come up with new ways to access water to fight fires - amidst the region's drought

Fire and Emergency has stopped taking water from hydrants in many areas to avoid putting extra stress on what's left of the town water supplies.

Principal Rural Fire Officer for Whangarei, Kaipara and the Far North, Myles Taylor, says instead they're collecting and storing water from ponds and rivers.

He says they're currently holding about 62 thousand litres at their depot in Kaikohe in portable dams - which they can access rapidly if they need too.