Maori-owned orchards bounce back from cyclone damage
A large Māori-owned kiwifruit business that was badly damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle has bounced back with a vengeance.
The charity has staged four Farmers Community Connect events in the past four months, in Wairoa, Waipukarau, Gisborne, and the Hawke’s Bay, handing out a total of $1.4 million worth of fencing and thousands of burgers.
Now the charity is bringing its Farmers Community Connect event to Wellsford on 30 November and those farmers in need of free fencing are urged to register for a fencing bundle by 23 November.
Danny Blampied, the RRT’s founding director and marketing director, says the Christian values of care and compassion motivated RRT to assist farmers in Northland and Auckland in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle.
“We’re looking to help 300 farming families with free fencing packs valued around $1,500 each,” he says. “We know how hard our farmers work but they can also be a stoic bunch and keep to themselves.”
“We hope the fencing materials goes a little way to help local farmers, and that they also take advantage of the various services on offer during the event,” says Blampied.
Additional services will be available at the event, including: Veterinary support, rural financial counsellors, financial services, and mental wellbeing and community health support.
Farmers can register for the fencing bundles via http://www.bit.ly/kaiparaFCC or phone 028 2550 0838.
