As recently as last March, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay declared a medium-scale adverse event in the Hurunui district as there had been no significant rainfall for several months.
Rain at Labour Weekend was the first significant rainfall in nearly a year and recent rain has provided a good follow-up.
But Black acknowledged the summer rain will not have pleased everybody.
''While it has been cold for campers, the rain has been good for farmers.
''It is hard to find a perfect world because there are crops ripening and farmers will need some warm weather now to finish those crops and get the harvest in.
''So it is a double-edged sword. We just have to take what we get.''
Black said it had been a season of contrasts so far, as there has already been a couple of large fires and there is snow on the mountains.
''We've had summers like this before. It is just nature doing what it does.''
''Last year on New Year's Day we had northwesterlies and it stayed hot and dry, so it is a nice change.''
But she said farmers were looking forward to some sun to ripen their crops and get some hay cut.
The Hurunui Adverse Events Committee is due to meet again on 21 January and chairperson Dan Hodgen said he looks forward to a positive meeting.
''We will be able to pass on our rainfall totals with a smile, instead of a grimace.''
But he warned the drought was not over.
The Christmas rains were mainly coastal, so while it was good for soils and pasture, groundwater tables and river levels across the district were still low.
Hodgen, a Waikari sheep farmer, said he had already sold his lambs, mostly as store lambs, so the focus was on getting his ewes in condition for mating and preparing for winter.
Improved meat prices have provided some additional relief, he said.
''The mood among farmers is generally pretty good. We are looking forward now, which is quite nice.''
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
