Financial and counselling assistance
East Coast Rural Support Trust: A free and totally confidential service to assist people and families in the wider rural community experiencing any adverse event – financial, climatic or personal. Phone Bruce Watkins (Wairarapa) 06 378 6895 or Chris Southgate (Tararua) 06 374 2740, cell 0274 846576.
Ministry of Social Development/Work and Income: Assistance for drought affected farmers and farm workers. Phone 0800 779997 or talk to your accountant regarding the Working for Families package
Counselling: Local qualified and experienced counsellors are available to drought-affected people. Contact Bruce Watkins or Chris Southgate for a counsellor’s number or contact Lifeline, phone 06 370 1015.
IRD - taxation: Phone 0800 227 774
Community and Public Health Services (DHB): Phone 06 946 9800
Useful tips
- Focus energy in areas where you can influence the outcome and be prepared to make some hard calls.
- Make decisions early and set dates to implement these decisions. Update and revise plans regularly.
- Get off the farm at least once a week to socialise. Something as simple as fish and chips with positive neighbours or non-farmers is a good tonic. Avoid bottled solutions.
- Keep in contact with your neighbours as there is tremendous mental and emotional pressure on farmers, farm staff and families.
- Monitor the condition of your stock- body condition score capital stock frequently.
- Make sure your entitlement via ‘Working for Families’ has been upgraded to reflect this year’s lower income - talk to your accountant.
- If your overdraft is going up to pay for the groceries, you may be eligible for Rural Assistance payments from the Ministry of Social Development.
- “Rain rekindles hope, but cash flow budgeting assists in establishing the facts”. – Get a good team of people around you and conduct an audit/review of your individual situation.
Tips care of the Wairarapa Drought Committee.