Southland
Southland Rural Support Trust helps locals in tough times
The Southland Rural Support Trust assists rural individuals and their families to get back on their feet following challenging circumstances such as financial, personal or climatic adverse events.
The Trust is part of a nationwide network which is linked into local rural networks, as well as Civil Defence, Work and Income, and rural professionals.
The Trust members are local people who have themselves faced the challenges rural life brings. Free and confidential help is available through the Trust's coordinator.
Contact us any time for a confidential chat about you, your business, the weather, your finances, a neighbour, partner, friend, family/whānau, or a farm team member.
Call the Southland Rural Support Trust now on 0800 787 254
Calling from a mobile phone? Select option #3 followed by option #6.
Our team
Our team is made up of professionals with a wide range of experience in primary industries as well as other sectors. They're passionate about supporting the community and helping rural people.
Rachael is the Wellness Coordinator who records calls from the 0800 phone, emails, website or rural professionals and liaises with a variety of wellness providers to help support cases with up to date and effective professional support. Rachael has many years’ farming experience from growing up on a stud sheep and cropping farm to sharemilking and owning her own dairy farm and now with her husband they own an agrichemical business. Rachael has a wealth of knowledge and training with suicide, family violence, loss and grief and trauma. Rachael has always embraced community involvement and cares deeply about the people in her community and their well-being.
Fiona joined the Southland Rural Support Trust in 2018 and in 2022 became a trustee. With a degree in Agricultural Science, Fiona has worked in a variety of roles in agriculture and hands-on farming sheep, goats, beef and cattle. Interest in dispute resolution and restorative justice led to her becoming a Te Pae Oranga community panel member in Invercargill. Widowed with children aged 5 and 8, and more recently having lost her partner to cancer has given Fiona experience in dealing with difficult life events. Along the way Fiona has been on three school boards of trustees and Coordinator for Southland Rowing Association. Fiona is often at SRST events with a camera in hand.
Katrina is a dairy farm owner in Wreys Bush and manages the online presence, regularly updating Southland's regional profile on the Rural Support website and Southland's social media platforms. Katrina is the point of contact for getting the communication out to the Southland rural region during adverse events e.g. Emergency Management Southland and Food & Fibre Stakeholders. Katrina ensures the Southland Rural Support Trust team are providing consistent messaging and profile to rural communities and farmers.
Simon is the Chairperson of the Southland Rural Support Trust. He runs a dairy farming operation in Southland and was the winner of the 2004 Young Farmer of the Year contest. He is on the board of directors of FMG Insurance and is a former Fonterra Cooperative Councillor.
Georgette has been a trustee with the Southland Rural Support Trust since 2023 and is based in Central Southland.
Anna lives on a sheep farm in Central Southland with her husband and young family. She has served on several local committees, was the inaugural Thriving Southland Associate Board member and has completed leadership training including the AWDT Escalator programme. She holds small roles with levy bodies and government biosecurity and has previously worked in animal welfare, farmer extension and as a practicing veterinarian.
Grant joined the Southland Rural Support Trust in 2022. Originally from a farming background in Southland, Grant has a banking and financial background and manages a diverse range of farming clients.
Julie farms in Glenham with her son and daughter in law. They run a sheep breeding and finishing and dairy grazing business and she joined the Southland Rural Support Trust in 2017.
Jody joined the Southland Rural Support Trust in 2025
Nicky is based in Western Southland and joined the Southland Rural Support Trust in 2024.
Dean joined the Southland Rural Support Trust in 2023. He farms in Southland with his family and won the Zanda McDonald award in 2016.
Morgan joined the Southland Rural Support Trust in 2023.
Bridgette is a trustee with the Southland Rural Support Trust.
WATCH: The Rural Support Difference
Supporting regions dealing with adverse events
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Restoring our rural communities
Call or email us.
We're here to help.
Our team of over 300 are available to assist you. We’re rural people ourselves, and operate locally in 14 regions across New Zealand, so we’re never too far to help.
Contact one of our team today.
Call our freephone number to be directed to your local Rural Support Trust. All calls are completely confidential. Select #3 for the South Island, then #6 for Southland.
Call or email us.
We're here to help.
Our team of over 300 are available to assist you. We’re rural people ourselves, and operate locally in 14 regions across New Zealand, so we’re never too far to help.
Contact one of our team today.
Call our freephone number to be directed to your local Rural Support Trust. All calls are completely confidential. Select #3 for the South Island, then #6 for Southland.
Helpful articles
Donate to the Southland Rural Support Trust
The Southland Rural Support Trust is a registered charitable trust manned by volunteers.
If you would like to support the work of the Trust, donations can be made to the Trust bank account:
03-0915-0414113-000
Please include your name and the word “Donation” in the reference field. If you require a receipt, please also notify the Coordinator of your donation.
