Latest news with #RuralSupportTrust
Scoop
a day ago
- Climate
- Scoop
Flood-Hit Farmers Need Our Help
Federated Farmers is calling on Kiwis to get in behind flood-affected farming families at the top of the South Island, as recovery efforts ramp up and the scale of the damage becomes clearer. President Wayne Langford visited the area on Monday July 7 and says the destruction in parts of Nelson and Tasman is extensive, with some farms totally unrecognisable. "I drove back up through the Motueka River and you can just see where it's come through and swallowed everything in its path. It's total devastation," he says. "One farm I visited had about 50 hectares taken out. The river changed course and just chewed right through it. Orchards nearby got absolutely smoked as well." Langford says it's clear some properties have been hit far worse than others - and that those farmers urgently need our support. "The damage can really vary. Some places have just lost boundary fences, but others have lost entire blocks. I met a guy who has lost a quarter of his farm. "It's heartbreaking to see, and the real kicker is that the worst of the damage is to farms right by the river - which are also some of our most productive." He says it's now time for the rest of the farming community to do what we do best in times of adversity - to get in behind these families and show them some support. "We know what to do in these situations. The Rural Support Trust is doing good work on the ground, and local volunteers are already rolling up their sleeves. "For people who really want to help, the best thing they can do is donate to the Farmers Adverse Events Trust. That's the best way to get the support to where it's needed most." The trust is designed to get funding directly to farmers who have suffered extraordinary loss - not just business-as-usual setbacks, Langford says.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Climate
- RNZ News
Hundreds of homes assessed following 'one-in-100-year' Nelson Tasman flooding
Floodwaters washed through Te Paranui Animal and Farm Sanctuary, Tasman, 28 June, 2025. Photo: Supplied/ Facebook Crews have assessed nearly 650 properties in Nelson Tasman after damaging floods and more heavy rain on Thursday. Homes in Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough have been left uninhabitable, roads are damaged, and properties have been inundated with flood waters after last week's wild weather, dubbed by local authorities as a "one-in-100-year event". However, another bout of heavy rainfall came and went on Thursday without any dramatic exacerbation of the existing post-flood crisis. The region remains under a state of emergency. Nelson Tasman Civil Defence said of the properties assessed, crews have encouraged 90 of them to reach out for support, and the Rural Support Trust has already followed up with some of the residents. A birds eye view of Nelson's flood levels, June 2025. Photo: Kate Green Two community meetings are lined up for today at Riwaka Memorial Hall and Ngātīmoti Hall. The trust's chairperson for the top of the south, Richard Kempthorne, said the destruction was "looking huge". "These are floods that you would expect to see maybe once every 100 years. So they are massive floods that pretty much everybody who's living by them haven't seen before." Earlier this week, the government unlocked extra support for flood-affected farmers and growers, making up to $100,000 available to support and coordinate recovery efforts. Kempthorne said the recovery would "cost millions of dollars". People returning to their homes are urged to take photos of all flood damage before they start the clean-up and contact their insurance company as soon as possible. For some spots at the top of the south, last month marked its wettest June since records began back in 1941. MetService confirmed more than 250mm of rain fell in Blenheim across the month, whilst about 220mm fell in Nelson - a record for both areas. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
7 days ago
- Climate
- Scoop
Weather Watch Continues But Rainfall Lower Than Expected
With rainfall lower than forecast, the Marlborough region appears to have escaped any major storm related impacts today, which was great news for the sodden region, Marlborough Emergency Management Incident Controller Chris Faulls said. 'We remain vigilant and prepared should there be any further impacts,' Mr Faulls said. 'This rain was predicted to hit us harder than what has eventuated but that is a good result for us.' A slip on Northbank Road is being assessed and a decision will be made by Marlborough Roads engineers tomorrow morning whether the road can be opened temporarily to allow residents access. There are 97 properties and about 250 people living beyond the slip site. The Ministry for Primary Industries and Rural Support Trust are working with landowners and farmers to assess impacts. Farmers and growers who require support are encouraged to contact the Rural Support Trust on 0800 787 254. Marlborough Emergency Management will continue to monitor the situation today. The Orange Heavy Rain Warning is in place until 7pm. Further updates will be provided as information comes to hand. Unless the situation changes, this will be the last update for today. For preparedness advice go to: If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 111.
RNZ News
30-06-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
'The damage is looking huge' - communities grapple with storm clean-up
Communities are getting stuck into the huge clean-up after last week's rain. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii Communities across the top of the South Island are grappling with the mega clean-up task ahead, following last week's deluge. Homes in Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough have been let uninhabitable, roads are damaged and properties have been inundated with flood waters. Rural Support Trust Top of the South chair Richard Kempthorne said the destruction was significant. "The damage is looking huge, so there are a lot of people, particularly on the Motueka, but also the Wai-iti River where the river has gone wide and very high and caused a lot of damage." Kempthorne said long-term residents were in shock, as they had never seen such severe flooding. "I think to put the scale into perspective, this is for both the Waimea, the Wai-iti and the Motueka rivers, these are floods that you would expect to see maybe once every 100 years. So they are massive floods that pretty much everybody who's living by them, haven't seen before." Kempthorne said the trust expected the demand for services to be very high, but it is too early to say exactly how much help would be needed. MetService is also warning the regions to prepare for more thunderstorms, wind and rain later this week. Kempthorne said people were hoping for the best. "Probably the adrenaline rush that comes immediately after an event like this is wearing off or worn off, and so they're probably really hoping that the weather event that is coming is not anywhere near as severe as what we've just had," he said. He urged anyone that needed help to get in touch with the trust or Civil Defence. The government has also unlocked extra support for flood-affected farmers and growers, with $100,000 made available to support and coordinate recovery efforts. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
30-06-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
More support for flood-affected farmers and growers as Motueka residents pick up the pieces
The government has unlocked extra support for flood-affected farmers and growers in Nelson, Tasman, and Marlborough, following last week's deluge. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay said it has been classified as a medium adverse event, as the weather damaged livestock fences, culverts, and tracks, and left pasture and orchards covered in silt and flood debris. The government is making up to $100,000 available to support and coordinate recovery efforts. The classification also unlocked further support like tax relief, and enabled the Ministry of Social Development to consider Rural Assistance Payments and activating Enhanced Taskforce Green. "Last week's deluge damaged infrastructure such as livestock fences, culverts, and tracks, and left pasture and orchards covered in silt and flood debris," McClay said. "The government is making up to $100,000 available to support and coordinate recovery efforts, including up to $20,000 for the Top of the South Rural Support Trust. The remainder of the funding will be made available to other organisations that work with farmers and growers on-the-ground." The funding is on top of $100,000 already contributed by the government to the Mayoral Relief Fund. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii It comes as Motueka Valley residents are clearing up properties, taking stock of damage and getting ready for the potential of another deluge of rain later this week. The area has been one of the hardest hit by flooding after the Motueka River burst its banks. Seventeen homes were deemed uninhabitable following the local state of emergency in Nelson and Tasman. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii Scott Bowler was in his house bus named Tumbleweed near the Motueka River when a landslide came down on it during Friday night's storm. "It was a pretty scary experience actually because I thought my bus, my house and all that was going to be washed into the river," he said. Bowler had a pet goat named "Yeeetus" [spelt with three e's to mimic the sound he made] and a Great Dane named Ares. Yeeetus, caused a stir when the water started coming down. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii "The goat disappeared while we were all moving the cars and I thought oh here we go, the goat's gone," Bowler said. "But once we were all finished the goat came running back to the bus and he was happy as." He planned to move his bus closer to the coast in preparation for rain expected later this week. Ashton Wood owns an apple orchard near the Motueka River and said the water is the most he's seen during the 15-plus years he's been farming there. He called on authorities to bolster flood protection up the Motueka. Wood said that $2.2 million worth of work on the flood banks had been done from Woodmans Corner near the river to the township of Motueka. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii "That probably needs to be done the length of the river," he said. He lost one hectare's worth of apple trees and the water washed away fence posts and hundreds of storage bins. "I have never seen rain like it, in terms of a space of one hour the whole area was running with water," Wood said. He said he'd just have to see what happened with regard to more rain expected in the coming days. When RNZ arrived at Naomi Pickett's lifestyle property she was cleaning up items that had washed onto the land which included dead livestock, an exercise bike and crates. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii Pickett spoke about how she felt when the water started rising on the weekend. "I felt like I was in Waterworld, you know the movie? Just like there above it all. "It was quite daunting really cause we have done this before, and we could see that there was a lot of silt in the water and a lot of stuff and that I was going to be a big clean up." She said the silt made her nervous about the prospect of more water later this week. "We are kind of concerned that because of the silt the water won't go in [to the land] and cause more flooding." Motueka Valley resident Bianca Fraser said the nearby river was loud when the rain was coming down on Friday. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii "It just sounded like the ocean was in our backyard." Fraser said her property was high enough above the river that she did not think she'd be affected by the additional rain forecast for Thursday, but she worried about her neighbours. There have been 373 weather-related insurance claims from Friday onwards across, home, contents, motor and commercial policies, with some claims as far north as Auckland. IAG executive general manager of claims, Stephannie Ferris, said with claims still to come through, she expected more homes would be deemed uninhabitable. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
