"I was not the best when Kevin [DairyNZ consulting officer] came around calling on people he hadn't seen for a while. I hadn't had the time to go to many discussion groups, and he just dropped in to see how I was getting on."
With that visit Kevin was able to be a sounding board for the concerns running around Craig's mind.
"It was good to have someone reassure me that my decision to stick with lower order sharemilking was sound, rather than opt out and go with wages after all this time. I have always felt it means you ride the highs and the lows with the farm owner, and we have certainly had both of those."
Kevin found a quick assessment of Craig's financial position, caused in part by the tax those good years had generated, required some seasoned advice.
He arranged for ex-farm advisor and dairy farmer Fraser McClean to give Craig a call and help sort out a plan to get on track. Craig reluctantly agreed.
"To be honest I was a bit negative to start with. I think I had a sense of failing and that I would be judged. In that position you often don't want people to know about it. I told Fraser unless he had a big cheque for me there was not a lot he could do. I'd made all the cuts I could."
But Fraser's persistence and acknowledgement that he had been in a similar space prompted Craig to meet him and have a chat over the kitchen table.
Between them they established communication with some key people with a stake in the farm.
"Our list included the farm owners who I have a really good relationship with, my bank - which like every bank does not like surprises - and my accountant who could help out with the tax issues, which were really my biggest problem.
"Two weeks later Fraser rang back and was stoked I had managed to talk to all three on the list. He'd never known anyone to work through it that quickly. I found a tremendous weight had lifted."
Craig's bank had proven supportive, the farm owners were keen to see him work through the tough time and his accountant was the best person to deal with Inland Revenue.
Craig had suspected the advice might include selling his beloved boat.
"But that was not Fraser's first priority. Talking through my finances I found I had some shares I could sell and that helped. Selling the boat remains an option, but as a friend said, 'they won't stop making boats'."
Fraser worked up a cashflow for Craig that highlighted the even better position he could be in should the boat sell.
"It's not always easy to accept help," says Craig.
"But there are options and support there if you're prepared to. I found the word management actually covers a lot more than just running the farm, which I was finding pretty easy.
" It's a big word that includes mindset too."
