Rural Support Trusts
Rural Support Trusts are a nation-wide network which assists rural communities and individuals during and following adverse events such as floods and droughts. As well as this, many of the trusts also provide their services in times of general hardship.
The services that the trusts provide vary depending on funding and focus, but in general they offer:
- coordination of an initial response to an event;
- helping farmers decide business options;
- providing mentors or colleagues from rural backgrounds to talk to;
- acting as advocates for financial assistance;
- advocating for assistance from Work and Income programmes (like Task Force Green); and
- providing stress management services.
If the trust does not offer particular services themselves they will make a referral to an appropriate individual or organisation.
Coping with stress on the farm?
If you or someone you know frequently feels frazzled or overwhelmed, you can help protect yourself and others from the stresses farm life throws at you by learning how to recognise the symptoms of stress and taking steps to reduce it. This Rural Stress Pamphlet [251K PDF] identifies a number of causes of stress and it its symptoms. It also provides some practical ways to manage it, along with a list of key contacts for further information and support.
Rural support organisations in New Zealand: contact list as at September 2009
| Northland/Rodney | Rural Support Trust | Helen Moodie helen.moodie@landcare.org.nz |
09 430 0954 |
| Waikato/Hauraki/ Coromandel |
Waikato/Hauraki/Coromandel Rural Support Trust |
Neil Bateup bateup@xtra.co.nz |
0800 787 254 |
| Bay of Plenty | Bay of Plenty
Rural Support Charitable Trust |
Derek Spratt spratty@netsmart.net.nz |
07 533 3764 |
| Gisborne | East Coast Rural Support Trust (Gisborne) |
David Scott treescapefarm@xtra.co.nz |
06 868 4840 |
| Hawkes Bay | East Coast Rural Support Trust (Hawkes Bay) |
Mike Barham md.ee.barham@xtra.co.nz |
06 877 3930 |
| Tararua | East Coast Rural Support Trust (Tararua) |
Chris Southgate cwsouthgate@xtra.co.nz |
06 858 6780 |
| Wairarapa | East Coast Rural Support Trust (Wairarapa/Upper Hutt) |
Bruce Watkins hmebw@xtra.co.nz |
06 378 6895 |
| Taranaki | Taranaki Rural Support Trust | Harvey Leach taranaki@fedfarm.org.nz |
06 757 3423 |
| Ruapehu/ Wanganui |
Ruapehu-Wanganui Rural Support Trust |
Lynn Neeson alyn@xtra.co.nz |
07 893 8547 |
| Manawatu/Rangitikei/ Kapiti |
Manawatu/Rangitikei Rural Family Support Trust |
Margaret Millard millard@manawatu.gen.nz |
06 329 6860 |
| Marlborough/Nelson | Top of the South Rural Support Trust |
Ian Blair ieblair@xtra.co.nz |
03 578 9923 |
| West Coast | West Coast Rural Support Trust |
Ross Bishop rossbishop@xtra.co.nz |
027 444 1580 |
| North Canterbury | North Canterbury Rural Support Trust |
Dorothy Oakley spudfarm@xtra.co.nz |
03 318 1742 |
| Mid Canterbury | Mid-Canterbury Emergency Relief Trust |
Allan Baird Allan.baird@xtra.co.nz |
03 308 7594 0274 350 141 |
| South Canterbury | South Canterbury Adverse Event Trust |
David Hewson hewson@farmside.co.nz |
03 612 6367 |
| Otago | Otago Adverse Events Support Trust |
Andrea Ludemann andrea@banarachfarm.co.nz |
03 437 1544 027 659 6800 |
| Southland | Southland Rural Support Trust |
Russell Falconer russell.f@sld.quik.co.nz |
03 207 2741 027 431 8173 |
| Janet Gregory janet.gregory@landcare.org.nz |
027 222 4005 |
Contact for Enquiries
Rural Support Trust Coordinator
Sector Performance Policy
MAF Policy
Private Bag 3123
Hamilton
New Zealand
Phone: +64 7 957 8337
Fax: +64 7 957 8315
