500 farmers get earthquake update at Federated Farmers meeting

500 farmers packed out Darfield High School’s hall last evening to hear experts as well as regional and national leaders detail support measures for North Canterbury’s rural recovery.

“According to Darfield High School, we had 500 people in the School’s hall last evening, plus a number of children who were being entertained while mum and dad attended the meeting,” says Conor English, Federated Farmers Chief Executive who chaired the meeting.

“This is a massive turnout for the Darfield area. It also gives some scale to the impact this earthquake has had on the rural community. The main focus was getting information out, answering questions and basically, providing an opportunity to relax and chat.

“There’s nothing like getting it from the ‘horses mouth’. Federated Farmers is hugely appreciative the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Bill English, Minister for Earthquake recovery, the Hon Gerry Brownlee and the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon David Carter, were all there to impart information.

“The Ministers reassured the audience that Government will work with the rural community to help rural North Canterbury recover. Federated Farmers will continue to work with Government and the recently established Regional Rural Recovery Group to do this.

“The presence of so many senior Ministers tangibly helped reassure the audience that Government hasn’t forgotten them.

“The local National Member of Parliament for Selwyn, Amy Adams, was prominent and we also had Labour’s current and past Agriculture spokespersons, the Hon Damien O’Connor and the Hon Jim Anderton, in the audience. They were representing the MP for Waimakiriri, the Hon Clayton Cosgrove.

“Federated Farmers was incredibly grateful that the local Mayors, Ron Keating and Kelvin Coe, were there with officials from EQC, Selwyn District Council, ECan, Canterbury University and GNS. Senior people from Telecom, FMG, Waterforce and Westpac were also on-hand to give facts and answer questions.

“It was great to hear from Allan Baird, the newly appointed head of the Regional Rural Recovery Group, as well as the Rural Support Trust on managing stress.

“Aside from damage to rural housing, grain silos, some farm buildings and holes in paddocks, there is still damage that has yet to be quantified because it is under the ground. There was considerable concern regarding buried water infrastructure, in particular water bores. We were able to give some practical tips of what to do and what not to do.

“The fault line has left fissure and holes through paddocks which are a danger to stock. It is just going to take some more time to get a full assessment of the damage and how to fix some of it.
“And then there is the stress of the aftershocks that all Cantabrians are feeling. We made it clear to everybody there they should not be afraid to ask for support. Rural families can do this by calling 0800 FARMING (0800 327 646), which is being manned over the weekend.

“Jamie McKay, Richard Low and Dick Tayler rounded out the evening with some great humour, which I know, the crowd really appreciated and enjoyed.

“The night really was a great success and allowed farmers and their families to socialise, something that many of them haven’t had the chance to do since the earthquake. It was like a relief valve and hopefully it marks the end of the immediate crisis. We now need to transition into the recovery phase.

“We ended the night with a few well deserved drinks and a BBQ, while the kids enjoyed being entertained by clowns and catching up, after a week off school.

“I wish to thank the generosity of various companies and Darfield High School for supporting the meeting last evening. Those being DB Breweries and Arrow Brewery for the beverages, Tegel NZ, Silver Fern Farms, CMP/ANZCO, Rabobank, Ballance Agri-Nutrients as well as the other companies who so kindly donated prizes,” Mr English concluded.

Meeting notes from the meeting (with wider contacts) are being circulated separately.

ENDS

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