Friday, March 29, 2024

Getting through together

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Drought has affected many parts of the country leading farmers to dry off early and quit stock. Many are still suffering from the effects and have little feed going into winter. Farmers in other regions are rallying around and donating feed to those worst-affected though they themselves have been affected. Central Hawke’s Bay Mayor Alex Walker sends her thanks on behalf of the region.
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The weekend of May 16 saw a ray of hope arrive in Central Hawke’s Bay and I couldn’t be happier about it. 

Finally, many of us have seen some desperately needed liquid gold fall from the sky. 

It’s not enough to solve all our problems but it’s something and it’s great for the spirits. What’s even better for the spirits, though, is when we all stand together in solidarity and in Central Hawke’s Bay we have been lucky enough to experience just that when our friends from Wairarapa gave us an unbelievable gift in the Rapa Feed Run, which brought more than 600 bales of hay and balage. 

Movement restrictions from the covid-19 lockdown plus widespread dry across the North Island, in particular, have put feed in extremely short supply and the logistics of transporting from other parts of the country are complex and sometimes costly.

Heading into winter drought is a disastrous situation and even though feed is expensive, bringing it in to feed what stock is left is still the most cost-effective way of getting through. Hawke’s Bay has been thankful for incredible support from farming communities around the country and, in particular, Wairarapa and the Rapa Feed Run.

Your show of solidarity in delivering feed to our region has given an incredible boost to the spirits of our farmers and I want to send a huge and personal thank you to the legends who made it happen. Thank you, thank you, and thank you again from the bottom of my heart. 

The primary industry is the backbone of our region and our economy and it’s essential that our region stands up to help farmers as the drought now heads into winter, doing everything we can do to get them back on their feet as we come out of the covid-19 crisis. 

Wage subsidies and loans are helping support businesses across the country but there is very little financial support for farming. 

But we are here for our farmers. 

This month Hawke’s Bay’s mayors and the regional council chairman established the Mayoral Drought Relief Fund – an initiative I am passionate about driving for our rural communities. The purpose is to raise funds to allow the Rural Advisory Group to help alleviate the financial burden for farming families across the region who are feeling the burn of the drought, focusing on the cost of transport and logistics to get more feed on the ground. 

Central Hawke’s Bay has kick started our contribution to the Mayoral Drought Relief Fund putting $100,000 toward the cause – with $50,000 each pledged by the council and consumer-owned local electricity lines company Centralines. Hawke’s Bay’s other Councils as well as the Government have contributed generously to the fund, with Agriculture Minister Damein O’Connor pledging $500,000 to assist our farmers through the drought. 

This might seem like a small drop into a huge issue but with close to a million dollars now raised our Rural Advisory Group has the funds to transport significant amounts of feed into Hawke’s Bay to help get as many people and animals through the winter as we can. More information about how you can help will be coming soon, please keep a watch on the council’s Facebook page and website for details.  

We are in this for the long haul but our network in Hawke’s Bay and beyond is truly incredible. Together we will get through this. Kia Kaha. 

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