Federated Farmers acknowledge anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle

Today marks one year since Cyclone Garbielle struck the East Coast causing widespread damage across your farms and your communities. 
  
I know it’s been a tough year for many of you with huge disruption not only to your farms and businesses – but also to your day-to-day lives. 
  
I’ve spent the last few days on the road driving down the East Coast from Tauranga to Hawkes Bay and seeing the damage that still remains with my own eyes was a sobering experience. 
  
During that trip I spent a lot of time meeting with farmers, visiting their properties, and asking what Federated Farmers can do to help. 
  
One key message that I took away from those conversations is that although the farms are still fairly rough, and there’s plenty of fencing left to do, that’s not where you want us to focus. 
  
I’ve heard loud and clear that the focus needs to be on getting the roads, bridges, and other infrastructure sorted as a priority. 
  
You can deal with the farm, but you want your partners to be able to get to work, your kids to be able to get to school safely, and for vehicles to be able to get to and from your property. 
  
I’m incredibly grateful to those who shared their personal situations with me – those stories will be invaluable as we push the Government for more investment in the recovery. 
  
If there’s anything more we could be doing to support you or your community, please reach out by replying to this email. 
  
Wayne Langford 
Federated Farmers President
 
 

Listen to the Federated Farmers podcast 

This year Federated Farmers have launched a new podcast and our second episode, released on Monday, focuses on Cyclone Gabrielle. 
  
To mark one year since the cyclone, we sat down with Federated Farmers adverse events spokesperson Sandra Faulkner and Gisborne farmer Sam Hain. 

Listen now 

Nominate a mate to win a free tractor 
Do you know a deserving farmer who has been affected by the cyclone that would love a new tractor? If you do, you may be in luck. 
  
Case IH and New Holland have generously donated two tractors for Federated Farmers to give away to local farmers in need.
  
For the last few months these tractors have been operating in partnership with Stevenson & Taylor and Federated Farmers as part of the 'Commence the re-fence' initiative. 
  
Together with our fencing contractors we’ve completed 70km of free fencing for local farmers across 130 different properties. 
  
The tractors will be gifted in March 2024, but until then we’ll be keeping them busy supporting more local farmers in need of a hand. 
  
We’ve made nominating a farmer as easy as possible, but as always, terms & conditions apply.

Nominate now