Thursday, 19 March 2026 12:24

Rural Communities Receive Wellbeing Boost

Written by  Staff Reporters
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey. Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey.

The Government has announced its support for 18 community-based initiatives through its Rural Wellbeing Fund.

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says the fund was established last year to boost wellbeing programmes that support the rural sector.

"These initiatives will ensure farmers and growers have the support they need to thrive,” McClay says.

Meanwhile, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says the Government is committed to delivering faster access to mental health support, including for the one in five people living in rural communities.

“We’ve focused on supporting proposals that can have the greatest impact on the ground, as well as new initiatives targeting gaps,” Doocey says.

“Partnering with grassroots organisations enables the Government funding to go further and make a real difference.”

As part of the funding boost, Farmstrong Charitable Trust will receive $399,250; Surfing for Farmers Charitable Trust receives $160,000, and The NZ Federation of Young Farmers Clubs Incorporated receives $585,000

The Ministry for Primary Industries and Health New Zealand each allocated $2 million over four years for the fund through Budget 2025.

More like this

RSE Scheme Changes Coming - McClay

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has admitted that a scheme bringing workers from Pacific nations to work on orchards has become too hard to navigate but says changes are coming.

Government Mulling Plan Change 1 Intervention

The Government is looking at intervening on behalf of Waikato farmers who face new regulations around agricultural land use while Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms are underway.

Featured

Peter Reynolds Awarded Horticulture NZ's Bledisloe Cup

Potatoes New Zealand has congratulated Peter Reynolds of TA Reynolds Ltd in Pukekohe on being awarded the Horticulture New Zealand Bledisloe Cup, recognising a lifetime of service and contribution to New Zealand horticulture.

Sharemilkers Credit DairyBase Tool for Staffing Decisions

Signing up to a benchmarking tool is not about competition, but about improving collectively, says Ximena Puig and Alvaro Luzardo who are 50-50 sharemilkers at a 164-hectare (effective) dairy farm in Eketāhuna in the Lower North Island.

National

Machinery & Products

 

 

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

True Reflection?

A fair question has been raised about how member-funded organisations should conduct themselves when taking a public position on any…

Civil Circus!

OPINION: It really is getting harder to lampoon government bureaucrats when they do such a good job of it themselves.…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter