Wairarapa Farmers Come Together at Farmers Community Connect
More than 80 farmers affected by recent severe flooding in Wairarapa have come together to access free materials and support services at an event organised by Rapid Relief Team.
The Farmers Community Connect (FCC) event provided flood-affected farmers with free fencing packs containing posts, battens and wire to assist with repair and recovery efforts following the severe weather experienced across the region in late June and early July.
In total, the event distributed 6,400 fence posts, 8,000 battens, and 160 rolls of wire, helping farming families rebuild damaged infrastructure.
Farmers also had the opportunity to connect with a range of local support organisations, including mental wellbeing services, rural financial counselling providers and veterinary suppliers.
Alongside collecting recovery supplies, attendees enjoyed a complimentary barbecue lunch and barista coffee while catching up with fellow farmers and support providers. In total, 220 meals and 365 coffees were served.
RRT New Zealand General Manager Paul Simmons said the event delivered both practical assistance and a valuable opportunity for farmers to connect with others facing similar challenges.
Recovery from weather events of this scale doesn’t happen overnight. Many farming families are under real emotional and financial pressure as they cope with damaged infrastructure and the ongoing clean-up effort.
“This Farmers Community Connect event was all about providing practical support while creating an opportunity for people to come together, access services and have conversations that can make a real difference during the recovery process. It was heartening to see so many farmers take up that opportunity.”
Flynn Wilkinson was one farmer from the local area who attended the event after being severely impacted by the flooding. A sheep and beef farmer, he lost 95 per cent of his tracking and 25 per cent of his fencing as a result of the flooding, and said that the event was a great way “to keep morale of farmers up.
“The last major flooding caused an immense amount of damage on farms – we’ve had people who have lost 80 to 90 per cent of their track access. An awesome community initiative, right in the heart of our community.”
Sarah Donaldson, Coordinator for Wairarapa at the Rural Support Trust
About Rapid Relief Team NZ:
Established in 2013, the Rapid Relief Team is a charitable arm of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church which provides practical support, community assistance and disaster relief across New Zealand and around the world. For more information on RRT, please visit www.rrtglobal.org.
Since 2023, RRT has supported more than 1,640 New Zealand farmers affected by severe weather events through its Farmers Community Connect programme – further information available here.
