Contact Otago Rural Support Trust

Early intervention of a Rural Coordinator can pay dividends and produce negotiated solutions which minimize losses and disruptions, restore confidence and dignity and facilitate either rehabilitation or restructuring. If you need help or know of a rural family needing help kindly contact us using the online form below.

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News & Alerts

STARTING THE CONVERSATION

The Top Six Inches - breaking the mental unwellness stigma by starting a conversation

Monday, March 1, 2021

STARTING THE CONVERSATION
Author: Marcia

Artist Paul Rangiwahia grew up in the rural town of Hawera and is no stranger to farming stressors. His previous art is displayed outside New Plymouth's Puke Ariki Library and was his first foray into how art could support positive conversations about mental wellbeing. Paul was aware of the pressure farmers faced, not only with new legislation but also with general on-farm stress. To combat the silence and stigma related to mental unwellness he created the artwork called "The Top Six Inches" using the analogy for not only where the majority of the plant roots sit in the soil but also the top six inches of the brain where resilience is developed by farmers who take care of their wellbeing. 

 

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Categories: Uncategorized, 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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Feed coordination service

https://www.odt.co.nz/rural-life/rural-people/finding-feed-farmers-need

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Author: Terri Anderson

Sharon Cousins, of Balclutha, is one of four temporary feed co-ordinators appointed by the Ministry for Primary Industries.  Ms Cousins covers the Otago and Southland area while Tammy Johnson, who is based at DairyNZ, Lincoln, is the South Island feed co-ordinator. Two others are based in the North Island. The feed service is an initiative set up by the Feed Working Group, an MPI and industry collaboration to manage the impacts of drought and Covid-19.  However, the continuation of the service is subject to a decision by MPI early next month,  after it evaluates whether it is still needed.

 

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Categories: National, Otago, Southland

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Feed planning service

NZ-wide: for drought-affected farmers, and those affected by floods eariier.

Thursday, April 2, 2020

Author: Terri Anderson

Feed planning service flyer

MPI and partner agencies DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb NZ, AgFirst and Federated Farmers are providing remote feed planning support to farmers.

How it works

This service is based on level of need and operates on three levels:

1. In the first instance, we’ll work out how much feed you need. A call to an industry or levy body will get you a free stock take assessment of your feed planning needs.

2. In the second instance, where it’s required, we can offer more advice and practical support. An advisor will help you understand what needs to be done and how you can go about it.

3. Finally, we can also refer you to someone who can offer more in-depth support. We can refer you to a farm systems consultant, who can provide help over the phone or visit if it is a serious animal welfare issue. Please note this level 3 support is not free.

Please call one of these toll-free numbers:

Dry stock sector – Beef + Lamb 0800 BEEFLAMB (0800 233 352)
Dairy sector – DairyNZ 0800 4 DAIRYNZ (0800 4 324 7969)
AgFirst 0508 AGFIRST (0508 243 477)

 

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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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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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