Tasman farmers and orchardists struggling with flood recovery and mental health pressures
The strain and pressure of weeks of repairing their flood-damaged properties is starting to tell on farmers and orchardists in the Tasman district.
Dairy rubberware supplier Skellerup is giving its support to I Am Hope, a community group.
It will donate $20,000 to the group and for every pair of Red Band gumboots it sells between March 25 and Gumboot Friday on April 5, it will donate $2.
Gumboot Friday is a new project of I Am Hope, run by The Key to Life Charitable Trust founded by Mike King.
For the past three years, Key to Life has campaigned to change the language about and attitudes to mental problems while raising funds for Kiwi children who need mental health counselling.
“For generations, New Zealanders have trusted our company and products. As a Kiwi icon, it’s important for Skellerup to support Kiwis enduring tough times,” says David Mair, Skellerup’s chief executive.
Skellerup, a NZX-listed company, employs 800 people, about half of them in NZ. Its Red Bands have been part of the farming scene for 60 years.
“Many of us have family, friends or colleagues who have battled or continue to battle mental health issues.
“To start the conversation that ‘it’s OK to not be OK’ and to seek help about it is an excellent initiative by I Am Hope and one we are proud to support,” says Mair.
Mike King applauded so many businesses mucking in to support Gumboot Friday.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
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