More support needed, not enough resources on the ground: Fed Farmers.

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Not enough resources on the ground: Fed Farmers.

by Murray Robertson

THE additional $23 million for initial cyclone recovery work on farms and for croppers across the country has been welcomed, but a lot more money will be needed, Federated Farmers says.

“We need vast amounts more, vast amounts,” the Gisborne-Wairoa provincial president Charlie Reynolds said on radio this week.

The latest funding boost takes total primary sector support so far to $78 million.

Nearly 6000 applications have been received for grants, with 3290 approved, and $37 million paid out to farmers and growers to date.

More support seems likely as the Government backs rural communities to recover from Cyclone Gabrielle.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said helping rural communities get back on their feet as quickly as possible was a priority.

“Since we launched the grants in late February we’ve seen strong uptake from farmers and growers, and we’ve moved at speed with $37 million paid out so far.

“This latest boost is expected to meet the remaining applications to be processed,” the minister said.

Mr Reynolds said the further funding was great but it was taking far too long to get out to those who need it.

“Some have got it, others are still waiting, and it’s stressing them out to be honest.

“The system has been overwhelmed by those needing help.

“The Ministry for Primary Industries is doing a great job on the ground with what they have — they’ve been brilliant.

“But there are not enough resources on the ground to make quick progress.

“The feeling among farmers and growers is that the primary sector industries have been forgotten, as there is no communication on a planned recovery

for the region’s primary sector,” Mr Reynolds said.

“We need an announcement that the region will get massive financial support in the Government’s budget.

“Every month that goes by without the massive amount of financial support the industry needs basically means it will take another year for it to fully recover.”

Last month’s overview of reinstatement costs for Te Tairāwhiti’s primary sector pointed to a cost at that stage of more than $120 million, and counting.

Mr O’Connor said having spent time on the ground the Government knew it was likely there would be more need for funding as people took time to take stock and work through their clean-up from Cyclone Gabrielle, including those in very isolated communities.

Applications for the clean-up grants closed on March 20, but those in hard-to-reach areas had until April 3 to apply.

“We understand farmers, growers and other rural businesses are critical to the local economies, providing jobs as well as export revenue for us all,” Mr O’Connor said.

“It’s important they have access to help now to protect future production, for example by saving vital trees, vines and pasture, and making repairs.”

Typical requests for funding have related to farm access, and recovery, such as culvert repair, fencing repair, farm track, silt clearing, and remediation around tree bases.

A group of primary sector experts have been monitoring the funding to ensure it was going towards appropriate uses.

Mr Reynolds made this plea to the Government in an interview on NewstalkZB on Thursday morning — “We need lots and lots and lots of money in the Budget please.”