Marlborough’s recovery mahi about people helping people

The mantra ‘help thy neighbour’ is strong within Marlborough’s rural communities following the August weather event.

The Rural Support Trust recently hosted a successful and well-attended ‘farmers and growers’ drop-in session’ in Rai Valley for those impacted.

Council Recovery Navigator Charlotte Wood said the room was full of people helping people and neighbours helping neighbours.

“The loss of productive land for those present is particularly difficult to come to terms with. Many farms have been left grappling with deposits of silt, gravel, and logs as well as damage to waterways and fences,” she said.

Rural Support Trust gathered several farm consultants and support agencies together including members of Council’s recovery and rivers teams, LIC Farmwise Consultant,

Ravensdown, Fonterra, Farmsource staff, DairyNZ, Vets on Alabama and FMG at Rai Valley’s Miller’s Rest Tavern.

Attendees were able to chat to those present about the impact of the weather event in a relaxed setting.

Rural Support Trust’s Sarah White says it is great to see farmers coming together to talk.

“Taking time off farm is really important as many farmers and workers will already be feeling tired in what is normally a really busy time and now with the added pressure of flooding,” she said.

“We ask those that still need on farm clean up help offered by Enhanced Taskforce Green to please take up the offer and self-register at https://bit.ly/3xKlWpN or contact Top of the South Rural Support Trust 0800 787 254.”

Rural Support Trust also encouraged farmers to apply for the Mayoral Relief

Fund (Primary Industry Business) by going to https://bit.ly/3qDevN2

“These initiatives are there to support you and your business,” she said.

More drop-ins will be arranged in the coming weeks.

For more details about drop-in sessions or any other issues, please contact Rural Support Trust on 0800 787 254 or sarah.white@ruralsupport.org.nz

The neighbourly theme continues with the restarting of the Rural Women NZ Kenepuru Branch’s Operation:

Isolation Assist.

Representative Ellen Orchard says after the July 2021 weather event the Kenepuru and Sounds community were cut off and isolated. As a result, Operation: Isolation Assist was created.

This is a list of volunteer accommodation ‘hosts’ in Havelock, Blenheim, and Renwick for Sounds community locals who are impacted by road closures from the recent weather event. It is aimed at those who need to go to town for overnight stays of one or more nights due to appointments, supplies, doctors, dentists, hairdressers, or vet visits.

“It also includes discounted motels and some transport options for those who do not have a vehicle in town or cannot afford the barge cost,” said Mrs Orchard.

For more information and for host contacts, please contact Kenepuru Branch RWNZ’s Ellen Orchard on 021 141 3235 or ellen@pelorustours.co.nz or Mel Price on 027 488 4402 or goprice@xtra.co.nz

For more information go to the Recovery section of Council’s website: www. marlborough.govt.nz/civil-defenceemergency-management/august-stormevent-2022

Gumboots were the attire of the day at Rural Support Trust’s drop-in session’ at Rai Valley.