Primary Sector-Government Partnership To Boost Rural Health And Resilience
The establishment of this fund is a result of advocacy by Federated Farmers Chair, Wayne Langford, who has been a long-time champion of rural wellbeing and mental health.
Minister of Agriculture
Minister of Forestry
The Government is stepping up support for rural New Zealand with a $4 million Rural Wellbeing Fund to expand investment in community-based initiatives, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced today at Fieldays.
'The establishment of this fund is a result of advocacy by Federated Farmers Chair, Wayne Langford, who has been a long-time champion of rural wellbeing and mental health,' Mr McClay says.
The contestable fund to drive rural health and community resilience will prioritise initiatives that have strong local backing and secure co-funding from industry or regional partners. It will support new and existing initiatives like Surfing for Farmers, Farmstrong, NZ Young Farmers, FirstMate and many more.
A five-member panel with representation from the primary sector will be established to assess project applications. Projects must demonstrate strong local delivery, provide clear benefits to rural people, and ability to attract co-investment from industry and sector partners.
'We're backing the people on the ground who are already doing great work—this fund is about scaling up, reaching further, and removing barriers for rural communities to lead their own wellbeing efforts,' Mr McClay says.
This fund brings the Government's total investment in rural resilience and mental health to more than $11 million over the next four years.
'This package is about ensuring the farmers and growers who generate our export income, create jobs, and sustain our regions have the support they need to thrive,' Mr McClay says.
'When rural New Zealand is well, New Zealand does well,' Mr McClay says.
In addition to the Rural Wellbeing Fund, the Government has confirmed:
$6 million over four years for Rural Support Trusts across the country;
An extra $1 million in 2025 for frontline rural mental wellbeing services;
$400,000 in grants for A&P shows that foster rural connection and pride; and
$250,000 to support the expanded outreach work of Rural Women New Zealand in 2025/26.
Expressions of interests for project funding are now open. For more information, visit www.mpi.govt.nz.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsroom
an hour ago
- Newsroom
The carbon market is on course to collapse in the 2030s
Analysis: The Government has made the Emissions Trading Scheme the centrepiece of its climate strategy, but has said nothing about what it will do to prevent the carbon market from crashing out in just over a decade. Warnings about the ETS running out of runway in the 2030s are not new, having first been raised by the Climate Change Commission in draft advice in early 2022, but they have taken on added gravity due to the coalition Government's heavy reliance on the scheme to meet its climate targets.
Newsroom
an hour ago
- Newsroom
Govt KiwiSaver cut ‘final nail in the coffin' for self-employed
Self-employed New Zealanders are re-thinking their retirement savings schemes after the Government slashed its KiwiSaver co-contribution in the Budget. Data compiled from accounting fintech Hnry's latest sole trader pulse check highlights negativity following the change, with 52 percent of the 502 self-employed workers polled, actively opposing the cut. Forty-three percent say it will alter their saving behaviour and 24 percent plan to reduce their contribution as a result of the change.
NZ Herald
2 hours ago
- NZ Herald
How outgoing Whanganui council boss David Langford reflects on his tenure
'In the words of Leslie Knope from (NBC sitcom) Parks and Recreation, when they shout at me, it's just them caring really loudly.' Langford said the past five years for local government had been intense, mostly due to the amount of change imposed on the sector, such as Three Waters and Local Water Done Well reforms and the Government's plans to replace the Resource Management Act and Building Control Authority. 'Councils that come out the other side are going to look very different, and they are going to have to figure out their purpose and role in supporting the community,' he said. 'As New Zealand, we are one of the most centralised systems of government in the whole of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). 'Our Government spends 93% of all taxes, and I think the average across most high income countries is more like a 70 (central) 30 (local) split.' He said Government conversations around rates capping and focusing on the basics sounded good, but 'what does that mean?'. 'Almost all our rates' money is spent on core services already, and the bits that aren't are the bits people really care about and fought to keep. 'We fund the Christmas Parade, and give $100,000 a year to surf lifesaving to help them patrol the beaches and keep our kids safe. That's not core services. 'If we put caps on rates, these are the things that will get hit.' The council achieved an average 2.2% rates rise for 2025/26, the lowest in the country. David Langford (left) with Sarjeant Gallery director Andrew Clifford. That was the culmination of the past 3.5 years of work, he said. 'The foundations we've laid here are going to serve the community well. 'Whoever comes in to replace me will like some things I've done and change some of them as well, but, hopefully, they'll keep the momentum going.' Langford said he would be disappointed if the district did not have the lowest rates increase next year as well, while still increasing investment in core infrastructure. There was an 11% increase in the council's infrastructure spend for 2025/26. A major part of the council's role was 'building things', whether it be fixing potholes or putting pipes in the ground, he said. 'There are a lot of armchair engineers out there, but it comes with the territory. 'Anybody who's watched an episode of Bob The Builder thinks they know how to do my job better than I do. 'Like I said before, if you're not up for the criticism, and you're not prepared to rise above it, this job is not for you.' Langford said challenges still lay ahead, such as the future of the NZ International Commercial Pilot Academy. The facility is under investigation by the Civil Aviation Authority, although four planes have returned to service. 'It delivers around $10 million of GDP into our economy, but the goal was also to get a business paying landing fees at the airport, so the ratepayer doesn't have to subsidise it as much. 'The intention was always to get it set up as an investment, and once it's running, sell it. 'Now's the time to hand it over to the private sector, but make sure we keep those benefits.' He said his proudest achievements was forming a citizens' assembly - 'a bold move' - to tackle the future of outdoor swimming in the district, including the Whanganui East pool. The assembly presented two recommendations at a council meeting this month, although the issue was left on the table until August 12. 'There's a heap of lessons we've learned and when council does the next one, it'll be a bit slicker and even better,' Langford said. 'For me, it was seeing the community step up and make the most of the opportunity, and really get engaged with an issue they care about.' Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily the Whanganui District Council.
