Chance for prized break

Urban New Zealanders are getting behind the call to nominate farmers who deserve a break. Founder Julia Charity, foreground, is pictured with Look After Me host Deby Sowter and guest.

Almost 100 farmers in desperate need of downtime have been nominated in a competition designed to get them off the land and on holiday.

Organised by Bay of Plenty tourism company Look After Me (New Zealand's Homestay Network) it was targeting stressed rural workers who felt isolated, overwhelmed or alone.

Founder Julia Charity said the competition was spurred by sobering statistics around depression in rural areas that indicated suicide rates among New Zealand's rural communities have been up to 67 per cent higher than in towns and cities.

"We have been quite alarmed with the media coverage of suicide in the rural communities and the statistics."

Farmers were diversifying their businesses and an increasing number had joined the Homestay Network, she said.

"It's a win-win matching under-utilised accommodation with New Zealand's growing tourism markets. There is an increase in self-drive Hobbit Tours, high profile events like the National Jazz Festival and cyclists wanting overnight accommodation close to cycle trails so it makes sense that rural land owners are looking at these options."

Those conversations had also triggered the need for farmers to improve their wellbeing.

"We have been heartbroken by some of the stories that are emerging. It is stories of women who have lost husbands and are still running the farm and raising families.

"We've come across stories of elderly couples in their 70s and 80s on farms and you know those people really need a break. It's exhausting work."

Some of the farmers had not had a break for 30 years, she said.

"When we have been interviewing and talking to our farmers they are saying well it is 24/7 and they cannot get away from the land. They get up every morning because they are working the land and the animals don't know that it's Saturday or Sunday. It's relentless."

People were encouraged to recommend others online and describe in 200 words or less why they should win one of the four holiday breaks up for grabs, she said.

The Look After Me website had 249 properties from around the country listed on the accommodation section of its website.

An online nomination
Joan owns a 220 herd dairy which she runs on her own. She does employ someone to help with milking. However, there is the rest of the farm to manage, weed spraying, fertilising, herd testing, etc plus book work and data entry when she's finally indoors, after the housework is done. She gets up in the middle of the night to move the effluent sprinkler, and check on cows during calving. She has no help with this. She loves farming but I'm sure she would appreciate a break away. If anyone deserves this, she does.
(Name has been changed to protect identity)

*Nominations for Farmers who deserve a break will be accepted until June 30, 2014.

Entry and competition details at www.lookafterme.co.nz under its blog.