Support for flood-affected farmers

Hauraki District Deputy Mayor Toby Adams (second from right) chats to farmers outside the Patetonga Hall on Friday. Supplied Photos

There were plenty of gumboots on display at the Patetonga Hall in the Hauraki Plains on Friday morning.

A number of flood-affected farmers met up with support agencies plus Hauraki District councillors and staff to discuss a way forward following the heavy rains caused by Cyclone Cook last week.

Heavy rain on already saturated ground saw the Waihou and Piako Rivers reach record height levels in the Eastern Waikato last week and overtop stopbanks in some areas, causing ponding that is expected to take a few more days to drain.

The meeting was organised by the Rural Support Trust and attended by a large number of agencies including Dairy NZ, Federated Farmers, and Fonterra.

'[The meeting] was about getting people together and giving them the opportunity to speak to professionals who could answer some of their questions and offer support,” says Rural Support Trust Waikato-Hauraki-Coromandel chairman Neil Bateup.

Hauraki District Deputy Mayor Toby Adams attended the meeting and says it was great to see everyone coming together to support their neighbours and talk to agencies that can help.

'We're here to advocate on your behalf. We understand there will be an ongoing recovery period for many, and we urge anyone with any concerns to ask for help.”

For rural support call 0800 RURAL HELP (0800 787 254) or for welfare concerns contact Hauraki District Council on 0800 734 834.

For stopbank or other flood-scheme related matters call the Waikato Regional Council on 0800 800 401


From left: Hauraki District Councillor and Plains Ward Chair Gill Leonard, Rural Support Trust Chairman Neil Bateup, Hauraki District Councillor Don Swales, and Hauraki District Deputy Mayor Toby Adams.

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