The $3.54m would support South Island community projects helping farmers and growers determine what to do with their land after the November 2016 earthquake.
The three-year funding was set up to support the Hurunui, Kaikoura and Marlborough districts facing significant erosion and damaged land and needed support to investigate long-term land use options.
The five projects funded so far involved sheep and beef, dairy, viticulture and seafood.
The Ministry for Primary Industries had approved funding in principle for a further three projects, provided they met certain conditions.
MPI director-general Martyn Dunne said projects would be expected to share their findings with the community they represented.
“This way everyone can benefit and make progress together as the region recovers," he said.
Projects would be contracted from September 1 and groups would report back annually to MPI on progress.
MPI had set aside a further $1m for consultancy services, allowing farmers to use ministry-approved contractors to re-establish their previous systems and prepare for future shocks.
This consultancy cash provided up to 200 land owners and managers with up to $5000 each.
The remaining $460,000 of MPI’s $5m Earthquake Recovery Fund covered earthquake recovery work not covered by the eight community projects, such as precision agriculture and resilience planning.
Approved projects
Farm Land and Business Recovery Programme
The Farm Land and Business Recovery Programme is an initiative by local farmers, Federated Farmers, Beef + Lamb NZ and local government to give direction to recovery research.
The programme would work with local farmers to target relevant research, data and information collation to support their needs and to deliver the results back to the community through extension activities.
The South Marlborough Farm Land and Business Recovery Group, the Kaikoura Farm Land and Business Recovery Group and the Cheviot Farm Land and Business Recovery Group got $600,000 each.
Managing biosecurity risks on earthquake affected land
The NZ Landcare Trust got $207,300 to look at the biosecurity risks on earthquake affected farms with various risks being investigated with a focus on how to reduce further spread and adapt management options for earthquake affected properties.
It shared lessons with other biosecurity groups, eg nasella tussock, Chilean needle grass and wilding pines.
The project would support the group and work collaboratively with landowners, industry groups, councils and research bodies. Pilot sites would be monitored and be a focus for field days and case studies to share the lessons.
Kaikoura Plains Recovery project
The Kaikoura Enhancement Trust got $600,000 repair damage to the ground, emerging springs, stream banks and riparian areas on dairy farms. Suitable technical advice was now required to enable clarity, offer support, provide direction and allow landowners to make informed decisions.
“This project provides an opportunity for multiple parties to work in unison to address some key issues, difficulties and questions currently facing the Kaikoura dairy farming community and develop a new land-use plan for the whole catchment.”
Projects funded in principle
Paua Enhancement Facility
The Paua Industry Association could get $250,000 to set up an education programme to be run in conjunction with existing initiatives to support recovery of the paua population. It would include both reseeding and habitat options.
Flaxbourne and Waimea Water Resources
The Flaxbourne Settlers Association could get $372,250 to focus on changes to surface and ground water resources, their interaction and how the changes had affected water availability, quality, use and infrastructure.
Wine Industry
NZ Winegrowers could get $313,370 to enhance resilience for Marlborough and North Canterbury wine industries with insights, evidence and engineering
The earthquakes revealed vulnerability to seismic hazards. The aim of the research was to apply practical tools to make wineries more resilient to environmental, climatic and socioeconomic shocks.
