What are the biggest challenges facing rural people in your region right now – on-farm or off-farm?

Like most regions in NZ Otago farmers are faced with pressures from outside the farm gate, most particularly for those in Otago that rely on irrigation for their farming systems the uncertainty around their ability in the future to have a sustainable business is a real concern.

Of course, there are many other areas of regulation that are being piled on farmers at the moment which just add to the pressure.

Farmers are used to unfriendly weather conditions and the ups and downs of product prices and input costs, but it is the ever increasing ‘red tape’ that mean farmers have to spend more money and time on unproductive activities that is so frustrating.

What does support look like in practice for your branch?
In Otago we have two wonderful coordinators Joc Kinney from Hyde and Gareth Isbister from Oamaru who provide face-to-face support.

We also run various events throughout the region either to raise awareness of the trust or to give the rural community ideas and motivation on how to look after themselves and their neighbours on a day-to-day basis, such things as The Time out Tour with Matt Chisholm sharing his powerful life story and how he has overcome the dark times.

For the last few years, we have run Skiing for Farmers at Coronet Peak (inspired by Surfing for farmers which we also support).

We frequently organise and sponsor coffee carts to park in a convenient rural area to encourage farmers to get off farm for a yarn with their neighbours if only for an hour or so.

We have for a number of years had a presence at the Wanaka show offering free haircuts, which has been very popular.

Although or most important role is that response to an 0800 call, or as we describe it ‘the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff’, we are doing more the things described above which we think of as the ‘fence at the top of the cliff’.

We will of course never know how many we have helped or even saved by this ‘positive intervention’.

Can you share a recent moment or story that captures the spirit of your team’s work?
At the Wanaka show I was approached by a dairy farmer who said “I have had tragedy in my family, and I don’t know where I would be without you guys” it doesn’t get much more powerful or meaningful than that.

What upcoming events, workshops or initiatives are you planning or involved in?
We are planning for Skiing for farmers, not only at Coronet Peak in Queenstown but also at Ohau so our more North Otago farmers don’t have to travel so far.

We are also planning a series of coffee carts; we will also be mailing out more of our collateral to RD addresses.

What message do you most want to get across to people in your region who may be finding it tough but haven’t reached out yet?

We are here to help, so please don’t hesitate to reach out on 0800787 254 if you or someone you know needs help, in the meantime, exercise and socialise, they say that is why golfers live longer than others!

By Rural support Trust Otago chairperson Tom Pinckney