Japanese company among donors moved by quake plight of North Canterbury farmers
Damage on a farm caused by the Kekerengu fault.
The plight of North Canterbury farmers after a big earthquake and three years of drought has touched the hearts of donors contributing more than $60,000 to their cause.
Donations have come as far as Japan with hand knitting company Hamanaka Co so moved that it pledged $5000 on top of a percentage of future sales of its knitting yarn from this month.
Last year's 7.8 Kaikoura quake, centred close to Waiau in Hurunui, triggered a complex sequence of ruptures and ruined many homesteads, bridges and buildings, roads and lanes, fence lines and left some farmland torn and pock-marked. Two people died during the quake and farmers and other homeowners continue to live in caravans and sheds while claims are settled.
Images of the scarp created near Waiau by the Kaikourea earthquake.
The quake's timing was rough on farmers who have struggled to get through three years of drought. The Ministry of Primary Industries' declaration of a medium level drought was only lifted in February, just a few months after another adverse event declaration on November 14 for the quake.
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North Canterbury Rural Support Trust chairman Doug Archbold said farmers were still feeling the aftermath of the earthquakes and drought.
Damage on a farm caused by the Kekerengu fault.
"They have no financial reserves at all, but there are probably only 20-25 farms affected with [major] land damage . A lot of North Canterbury people have damage to their houses and about 20 homesteads have been red stickered and may have to be demolished.
He said the donations, on top of government money, would be well spent with more "days out" functions for farmers to get a break from farming.
"We have had in excess of $60,000 since the earthquake and this latest donation from Hamanaka is just another example of the generosity of the many people and organisations and the really unique thing is that it's the first international donation to our trust."
He said the quake and droughts had a devastating effect on farmers and they appreciated the community functions to get them off the farm and the one-on-one meetings to talk through their problems.
Trust volunteers have met 550 farmers since mid-2015 as well as visiting families in affected townships.
Archbold said farmers could be found continuing to live in caravans and sheds and they were seeking suitable housing for their families.
Hamanaka felt compelled to contribute to their cause after learning of the quake damage. The Kyoto company is supplied 20.5 and 19.5 micron wool from strong fleeced merinos and quarterbreds in Marlborough's Awatere Valley through PGG Wrightson's (PGG) wool branch. Valley farmers were isolated by large slips to the main access route from the quakes.
PGG Wool business development manager Craig Smith said the company had a strong relationship with the Pitts families in the valley, buying 500 bales from them a year, and after learning of their quake damage wanted to help.
"When the earthquake happened Hamanaka realised this is where their wool came from and asked how they could help. After talks with the Pitts family they suggested the North Canterbury Rural Trust and they donated $5000 which is a great gesture."
The donation was boosted with the company then wanting to donate a percentage of their New Zealand wool yarn sold in Japan going to the trust.
Smith said the sales contribution would make the original donation look insignificant.
Archbold said long stints of rain lately had been a morale booster for farmers, banks and stock firms.
"This latest rain is a huge relief in terms of ground moisture deficit over at least the short term. We have to qualify that because the financial implications will carry over for some years."
Most farms caught 60-70 millimetres of rain north of Amberley in March and there had been plenty of follow-up rain, allowing farmers to drill thousands of hectares of winter feed.
- Stuff
