Rural communities (rural people and rural businesses) are at the heart of the primary sector and are an important part of the New Zealand community and economy.
Rural communities are diverse and dynamic, with varying prosperity and demography. Distances from services and markets, infrastructure, and low population density affect the way different rural communities live and work.
MAF takes a lead role across government in working alongside rural communities to address some of the issues specific to the rural population.
Adverse events (natural disaster recovery)
Disruptive weather is a normal part of primary production. Managing adverse weather and climatic risks is part of primary production, as well as building a resilient business and rural community.
There are times, however, when an event is beyond the community's capacity to cope, and central government assistance may be required to help people respond and recover.
The Adverse events page has information on the government’s adverse events policy, the assistance available and specific information relating to droughts, floods, storms, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
Rural Support Trusts
Rural Support Trusts help rural people during and after extreme weather events. As well as this, many of the trusts also provide their services in times of general hardship.
MAF provides financial assistance to the Rural Support Trusts following a medium or large scale adverse weather or natural disaster event.
A number of other government agencies also provide help after an adverse weather event.
Vet Bonding Scheme
To address shortages of veterinarians working with production animals, the Government has committed to a Voluntary Bonding Scheme for Veterinarians.
Keeping Farmers Informed
E-newsletter Smart Farming Bulletin gives farmers information and news about sustainable, resilient and productive agriculture. It covers information about managing natural resources, adapting to climate change and weather extremes, and the Emissions Trading Scheme. It also answers some of the questions MAF receives most often.
To subscribe, please send your expression of interest to Smart Farming
Coexistence and GM
Producers in New Zealand currently use different types of non-GM systems, such as conventional or organic production. Coexistence between these systems has been happening in New Zealand (and overseas) for many years. For example, New Zealand's organics industry coexists alongside conventional production, which uses products and methods not allowed in organic production. Another example is where high-purity seed producers cooperate about where and when they sow their crops, to help maintain the purity of their seeds by minimising cross-pollination. Read more about Coexistence…
Reports and analysis
MAF runs an annual farm monitoring process to examine the production and financial status of farms in terms of the cash income and expenditure. Trends, issues and sector concerns are also monitored and reported annually.
MAF's Situation and Outlook for New Zealand Agriculture & Forestry (SONZAF) report provides an annual overview of issues faced by the rural sector.
In April 2011, MAF released Maori Agribusiness in New Zealand: A Study of the Maori Freehold Land Resource
Rural Proofing
Rural Proofing is a process designed to assist central government agencies to identify, consider and take into account the needs and circumstances of the rural community when developing and implementing policy and when undertaking consultation.