Our People

Miles Mander

Chairperson

Miles holds a BAgCom from Lincoln and Dip Banking from Massey. Recently retired after 40 years working in Rural Banking and  Finance. A Rural Support Trust trustee since 2004 lives on a rural block near Edgecumbe.

Patrick Andrew

Patrick Andrew

Regional/Team Leader

Patrick has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science Degree and previously worked for 30 years in rural banking and finance, including private consultancy and valuation.  He is skilled in planning, negotiation and strategy.

Jodie Craig

Co-ordinator

Jodie has a National Certificate in Business Administration and Computing and has previously worked for 15 years in the legal sector. She has studied as a Life Coach and grew up in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Malcolm Fluker

Malcolm Fluker

Facilitator

Malcolm has a diploma in Valuation and Farm Management and previously worked for 38 years in rural banking.  He has a wide knowledge of sheep, beef and dairy farming and strong relationship skills.  He has helped many farmers through tough times.

Fraser McLean

Facilitator

Fraser has qualifications in agricultural commerce and dispute resolution. Fraser ran a dairy farm for over 25 years, and now enjoys tutoring industry trainees and running dairy grazers.

Gillian Searle

Facilitator

Gillian has qualifications in Horticultural Science and Psychology. She has been a dairy farmer for over 25 years and has also worked for a range of dairy industry support organisations. 

Pat Kilgraff - FacilitatorPat Kilgarriff

Facilitator

The Trust's Facilitator Pat Kilgarriff has a bachelor's degree in Agriculture Science and worked for MAF as a farm consultant for nearly 30 years. He has since worked in private consultancy. Pat has proven skills in farm management and communications.

Viv Barr

Facilitator

Viv has a Bachelor of Education and still teaches part time in a primary school, working with children in special needs. She has been a dairy farmer for over 30 years and been an active member in many community organisations.

Kim Cawte - Secretary/TreasurerKim Cawte

Secretary/Treasurer

Kim Cawte is a farmer's daughter, has been Secretary/Treasurer for the Te Puke A&P Show for 17 years, Te Puke Vet Service for 14 years and Office Manager for Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers for 12 years, so has a wide network within the farming industry.

News & Alerts

Rural Support Trusts - how we can help in the M. bovis programme

We are more than just an ear to listen

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Author: Terri Anderson

Your regional Rural Support Trust (RST) is on-hand to support farmers being affected by M. bovis.

Our services are free and confidential.

As well as someone to talk to about your concerns, we can help you navigate through the process. We have training in and experience with the M. bovis programme, and know how it works.

Whatever your experience looks like, we can help in many ways including:

  • Trained facilitators who know how the programme works, and the process involved to help you navigate though.
  • Listening to your concerns and issues.
  • Confidentiality.
  • Phone calls, texts, emails – at a time that suits you.
  • Visiting and attending meetings with you.
  • One on one support and wrap around support – for you, your family, and your farming team.
  • Connecting – if we don’t know the answer we will help connect you to people who do.
  • Peer support – connecting with other farmers that have been through the process.
  • Helping you and your family access counselling services.

Depending on the individual farming operation it can be a lengthy process, involving a number of M. bovis Programme teams and RSTs offer support throughout the process and the ability to help shift things along if they get stuck.

We are rural people, helping rural people – we are farming people who understand the challenges of rural life.

Just call 0800 787 254 (0800 RURAL HELP). There are Rural Support Trust branches all over the country. Ringing 0800 787 254 will connect you to help in your area.

Supporting Our Rural Community

0800 RURAL HELP

www.rural-support.org.nz

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Categories: National, Northland, Waikato-Hauraki-Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, East Coast, Taranaki, Manawatu-Rangitikei, Ruapehu-Whanganui, Top of the South, West Coast, North Canterbury, Mid Canterbury, South Canterbury, Otago, Southland

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Cyclone Season

What to do in case of severe rain/storm

Monday, December 24, 2018

Author: Terri Anderson

Before severe rain

· Keep an eye on weather reports and enact your plans for moving stock and supplementary feed to higher ground if needed.

· Clear gutters and drains where possible

· Have to hand a smartphone, a charger for the car, a torch, and a battery-powered radio

· Check your insurance cover details

 

During a flood or storm

· Keep an eye on https://www.civildefence.govt.nz/ and your regional council websites/facebook or radio station

· The safety of you, your family, and workers comes first.

· Move stock to safety, shelter and water and make sure they can't wander. Are the electric fences working?

· Turn off utilities if told to do so by authorities as it can help prevent damage to your home or community. Unplug small appliances to avoid damage from power surges.

· Do not attempt to drive or walk through floodwaters unless essential.

· Check power and phones. Report outages.

· Check dogs, poultry and pets.

· Check on neighbours - do they need help or can they help you?

· Check buildings at risk, feed stacks. · Use generators if necessary to keep pumps, refrigeration, electric fences and household appliances running. Flood pumps may need attention. 

 

Further information:

https://www.dairynz.co.nz/business/adverse-events/flood/

https://beeflambnz.com/news-views/topics/flooding

MPI Animal welfare 

 

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Categories: National, Northland, Waikato-Hauraki-Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, East Coast, Taranaki, Manawatu-Rangitikei, Ruapehu-Whanganui

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Updates on the Mycoplasma bovis eradication

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Author: Terri Anderson

For weekly updates to your email sign up to MPI's stakeholder update. It is for you, your farmers, and anyone interested in the eradication of Mycoplasma bovis. Sign up here and please get all your networks of farmers and rural professionals to do so too.  

 

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Categories: Bay of Plenty, East Coast, Taranaki, Manawatu-Rangitikei, Ruapehu-Whanganui, Top of the South, West Coast, North Canterbury, Mid Canterbury, South Canterbury, Otago, Southland

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John Shackleton: Manage stress

A presentation in Taranaki - watch the video!

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Author: Terri Anderson

https://www.facebook.com/centraltaranakisafecommunitytrust/videos/2296467993701776/

John Shackleton events in Stratford yesterday encouraged the audience to consider mindfulness (it's not scary) and breathing meditations to enable thoughts to be current and now. Our wiring needs to be changed so we stop thinking about things we have NO CONTROL over such as guilt over past events or anxiety about the future. After 21 days you will notice a big improvement in wellbeing. 

 

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