Tales from the storm

PUPILS STAY HOME

Several schools in the flood-ravaged Rangitikei and Manawatu will remain closed this week.

Civil Defence staff said that while most Rangitikei schools had reopened, schools in Hunterville, 38km northeast of Bulls, remained closed.

Schools in Bulls, Clifton and South Makirikiri will open today.

In South Taranaki Waitotara school will remain closed until tomorrow week.

NOD TO FARMERS OVER TAX

The Government has told the Inland Revenue Department to be "sympathetic" to the plight of flood-stricken farmers.

Sources said the department was working on what it could do to help.

Details had not been finalised, but farmers owing GST and provisional tax would not be chased for it, the sources said.

The floods struck just before harvesting time, causing huge difficulties for farmers.


MEAT PLANT FORCED TO CLOSE

A Waitotara meat plant has closed indefinitely because of the storms and floods.

Richmond's general manager sheepmeat, Steve Murphy, confirmed that 150 staff had been given notice of the indefinite closure.

A storm last week caused considerable damage to the Waitotara area, including a bridge between the township and the meat plant near the coast.

"The closure decision was made because we had problems getting stock as a result with the bridge problem and nobody could give us any assurances about when the problem would be fixed," Mr Murphy said.

"In its current state the bridge is not suitable for traffic, especially heavy traffic and if we are to remain efficient we need trucks bringing stock to have problem-free access. We did not make the decision lightly and we had already put on extra staff at other North Island plants to cope."

SOME DAIRY FARMS STILL CUT OFF

About 100 farms could still not have their milk picked up because of flooding, Fonterra said yesterday.

Max Parkin, director of global operations, said the number was reducing daily as floodwaters receded and roads reopened.

Fonterra's Longburn manufacturing site had been reopened after its scheduled closure for maintenance, increasing the co-operative's capacity to process milk in the region, Mr Parkin said.

"The flooding has caused us huge logistical problems in the area and major concerns to Fonterra farmers."

- NZPA