Te Tai Tokerau

Our mission: To support rural communities through challenge and change
Rural Support Te Tai Tokerau is a community-focused charity dedicated to supporting rural people through tough times. Our region spans from the top of the Auckland Harbour Bridge right through to Cape Reinga.
We're deeply connected with the rural community, with access to networks, professionals, health services, local and central government agencies, and Civil Defence. This means we're well positioned to offer timely support when you need it most. Whether it's health and wellbeing challenges, dealing with biosecurity threats, employment issues, financial struggles or animal welfare concerns, we're here to help.
The help we provide is free and confidential. Our experienced coordinators and facilitators are rural people themselves, with local knowledge and firsthand experience of the challenges rural life can bring. We’ll meet you one-on-one, at a time and place that suits you, to give the support you need as you navigate change and uncertainty. We also organise community connection events, bringing rural people together to share experiences, build networks, and support one another through the ups and downs of rural life.
As part of a nationwide network, we’re also on hand to offer assistance during and after extreme weather events and other crises that impact livelihoods, including pastoral farming, forestry, horticulture, and other land-based industries.
Our mission is to stand beside rural communities, supporting them through challenge and change, every step of the way.
Call Rural Support Te Tai Tokerau on 0800 787 254
Calling from a mobile phone? Select #1 then #1
or keep an eye on Facebook for our latest news and events.
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.

Rachelle is based in Doubtless Bay in the Far North and has been farming with her husband on an intensive beef farm for the last 30 years. Rachelle has worked as a secondary teacher and a draftsperson. She has also had extensive involvement in community groups whilst bringing up their 3 children. With the challenges facing our rural sector at the moment Rachelle is passionate about finding solutions and supporting our rural communities.

Michelle is Trustee and Chairperson of Rural Support Te Tai Tokerau and Trustee and Chairperson of the Rural Support National Council. She runs a large scale dairy farm near Whangārei with her husband and three children.

Helen grew up on a sheep and beef farm just out of Wellsford. She has applied her Bachelor of Agricultural Science to roles in the resource management and sustainability space, and time as a consulting officer for DairyNZ. Currently working for Fonterra as a Sustainable Dairying Specialist she lives on a small block on the Whangarei Harbour. Helen’s involvement with Rural Support mahi predates the formation of the RST-Northland, working as RST Coordinator during the 2007 storms and 09-10 drought. Helen joined as a trustee in 2022, and she is privileged to contribute to the crucial work carried out by the Trust.

Neil is a trustee of Rural Support Te Tai Tokerau. He was brought up on a sheep and beef farm in Broadwood, and subsequently milked cows for 25 years before moving back to sheep and beef farming for 20 years. Neil now has a small beef farm in Okaihau. He has held various roles within the agricultural industry including being a Northland Dairy Company Director.

Aaron joined the Rural Support Trust Northland in November 2023. Bringing a wealth of experience from previous roles with MPI and MBIE, focused on agricultural investment and adverse event response and recovery in Te Tai Tokerau. Prior to this he established a consultancy business, Total Ag providing on farm and financial advice to farmers throughout Northland and continues to support farmers with their financial needs through his Agri Relationship Manager role with ANZ Northland. Aaron acknowledges the fantastic opportunity ANZ has given him to back the Rural Support Trust and continue to support the rural community. “Being involved with RST is incredibly rewarding to see the mahi the Trust, co-ordinators and Ag facilitators do to support our farmers and growers across the region”. “I’m excited to contribute to the future direction of the Trust and how we evolve to support the needs of our primary sector, ensuring that we continue to meet the health and well-being needs of our primary producers”.

Sue has been dairy farming with her husband Pete in the Waiotira district for many years. They have two grandchildren and four adult sons, two of whom, are involved in their dairy farming business. She is a lifelong learner and currently leads the DWN Coast to Coast Business group in Northland. She enjoys outdoor activities-gardening, beach & bush walking.

Lyna is a third generation Northland farmer whose pathway has been made up of family, faith, physiotherapy, farming and community. Lyna is married to Luke Beehre and they have brought up 3 kids in Hukerenui while farming their high BW jersey herd. It is here that Lyna has cut her teeth and developed her contribution in the dairy industry, with special interest in the NZ Dairy genetics space. Lyna completed the AWDT Escalator programme and was part of the LIC Reference Group. In recent years the Okura herd was sold, which has created more time for investment in our Northland Rural community with greater emphasis on people. Lyna is Northland proud and is motivated to see our rural community thrive.

Angela was born and raised in the out skirts of Whangarei on a dairy farm and has spent the majority of her life running the family farm located on the East Coast of Whangarei. She’s been involved in the agriculture industry her entire life in some capacity - working in the Landcorp Farming Whangarei Regional Office, Secretary for the Santa Gertrudis Breeders (NZ) Association, and even getting her hands dirty undertaking AI programmes. Today together with her husband and son she is still running the family beef farm. This role working for the Northland Rural Support Trust is an exciting opportunity for Angela to connect with fellow farmers and to help support them where she is able to.

Fleur was raised on a Dairy Farm in Poroti and now lives in Tutukaka with her young family. With over 20 years in the marketing, sponsorship and events industries, Fleur is excited to support Te Tai Tokerau's enterprising and resilient rural communities.

Celia grew up in Dargaville and has had stints living in Dunedin, Auckland and Canada before settling back down in Dargaville with her husband and young family. They live on a 10 acre block near Baylys Beach and enjoy all that the west coast lifestyle has to offer. They raise a handful of cows and sheep, are very keen vege gardeners and enjoy living off the land as much as they can. Celia is enjoying learning more about the resilience of our rural communities and how we as the Rural Support Trust can uplift and support you all.
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 #1 for upper North Island, then #1 for Te Tai Tokerau/Northland.
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 #1 for upper North Island, then #1 for Te Tai Tokerau/Northland.
Helpful articles
Donate to Rural Support Te Tai Tokerau
We are a charitable trust and would welcome your donation to help us continue supporting our rural communities.
You can make a donation via bank deposit to:
ASB Whangarei, 12-3175-0013712-00 and click here to request a receipt.