Tuesday, 07 March 2023 10:58

$26 million more for farmers and growers

Written by  Staff Reporters
The Government has announced additional funding for farmers and growers in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo Credit: Chorus. The Government has announced additional funding for farmers and growers in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo Credit: Chorus.

As farmers and growers continue to re-establish their businesses in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, the Government has announced a boost of $26 million to meet the need in the recovery efforts.

The boost sits alongside the initial $4 million rural community recovery fund already available to sector and regional organisations.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor says the priority is to help rural communities get back on their feet as quickly as possible.

“Farmers, growers, whenua Māori owners and other rural businesses drive the economies of the regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle,” O’Connor says.

“It’s important they have access to help now to protect future production, for example enabling remediation around tree bases to save vital trees and vines, clearing silt to improve farm access, and making repairs to stock water systems, culverts, and fencing.”

O’Connor says ministers have been on the ground in affected regions talking with farmers and growers.

“They’ve told us the grants are providing certainty of immediate funding, which has given them the confidence and reassurance to start remediating their farms and orchards.”

 Finance Minister Grant Robertson says the funding extends the help available through the $25 million farmer and grower grant package announced last month.

“The uptake of the grants has been strong with the number of applications surpassing 2,846 in less than a fortnight (12 days), and more than $17.4 million paid out,” Robertson says.

“We knew there would be more need during the response phase as people took time to take stock and work through their clean-up from Cyclone Gabrielle.”

Robertson says that, like with the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government needs to be “nimble, flexible, and responsive to immediate needs”.

He says the Government is committed to helping people and businesses recover from the cyclone in the months ahead and that ministers are working on the next steps of support as the region moves to recover and rebuild from the cyclone.

Applications for the clean-up grants are open until 20 March 2023, but those in hard-to-reach areas can apply up until April 3. Farmers and growers who have already received MPI clean-up grants are not eligible to apply again.

More like this

New Summerfruit NZ CEO

Dean Smith has been in the role of CEO of Summerfruit NZ for about four months, having succeeded Kate Hellstrom at the end of September.

$8b export milestone

Horticulture Minister Nicola Grigg says she takes her hat off to all NZ growers for the hard yards they have put in over the last few years which have resulted in horticulture exports expected to reach the milestone of $8 billion this year.

Gabrielle's effects linger on

Two years ago, Cyclone Gabrielle swept through apple and kiwifruit orchards in Hawke's Bay causing massive damage that has changed the region for ever.

Featured

Crush death triggers on-farm traffic alert

Following a sentencing for a death at a South Canterbury agribusiness, WorkSafe New Zealand is calling on farmers to consider how vehicles move inside their barns and sheds.

Vegetable growing at risk

Horticulture New Zealand says the country’s ability to provide fresh, healthy vegetables is at risk unless the Government makes growing them a permitted activity.

Industry monitoring dry conditions

While it has been a great spring and summer for farmers, soil moisture levels in the Waikato are now plummeting as the dry February starts to bite.

National

Top dairy CEO quits

Arguably one of the country's top dairy company's chief executives, Richard Wyeth has abruptly quit Chinese owned Westland Milk Products…

DairyNZ seeks more cash

For the first time in 17 years, DairyNZ wants farmers to contribute more cash to run the industry-good organisation.

EPA's plan 'not good enough'

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is bolstering its frontline applications teams in a bid to reduce the timeframe for new…

Machinery & Products

New home for JCB Agriculture

Power Farming has announced a new chapter in its partnership with JCB, which having represented the UK-based company’s construction equipment…

CAT's 100th anniversary

While instantly recognised as the major player in construction equipment, Caterpillar Inc, more commonly known as CAT, has its roots…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Ruth reckons

OPINION: Ruth Richardson, architect of the 1991 ‘Mother of all Budgets’ and the economic reforms dubbed ‘Ruthanasia’, added her two…

Veg, no meat?

OPINION: Why do vegans and others opposed to eating meat try to convince others that a plant based diet is…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter