Todd McClay has announced a $600,000 support package from government and industry for the Nelson Tasman region rural sector. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER
The minister of agriculture and forestry has announced a $600,000 support package from government and industry for flood-affected farmers, growers and foresters in the Nelson Tasman region.
Speaking while on a visit to the battered region, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay said the government had given the Mayoral Relief Fund $300,000 tagged to the rural sector.
The government has also matched $50,000 contributions from Horticulture New Zealand and Federated Farmers for the horticulture and pastoral sectors, he said.
The government and Horticulture New Zealand had given $100,000 of it to horticulture sector across the top of the South Island.
McClay said it came on top of $100,000 announced last month to support and coordinate recovery efforts.
"Many farmers and growers are facing their second clean-up in a fortnight from floods and storm damage," McClay said in a statement. "Rural communities are resilient, but the relentless wet weather conditions have taken a toll. This support is designed to provide meaningful and direct assistance quickly."
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford welcomed the support package, saying it was desperately needed to support recovery efforts and would make a real difference for farming families.
"What this $50,000 from the government means is that we can start work almost immediately with diggers, bulldozers and fencers from later this week," he said in a statement.
"That's the kind of support these farmers need the most right now. They need boots on the ground, shovels in the dirt, and heavy machinery starting to roll in."
Some farms only had minor damage they would be able to fix themselves, but others would need significant help, Langford said.
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