Damien O’Connor Criticises Budget 2026 as ‘Miserable’ for Rural New Zealand
A miserable budget that didn’t deliver much for anyone.
Rural Communities Minister Damien O'Connor says the funding will help speed up the recovery of farming businesses. It includes wellbeing support and specialist technical advice and enables the use of Enhanced Taskforce Green workers should they be required to help.
"The funding will help farmers and growers across Buller, Grey and Westland districts along with Nelson/Tasman and Marlborough districts, many of whom are facing a huge clean-up after the wettest February on record triggered widespread flooding. Floodwaters caused by two severe weather events in the space of a week damaged infrastructure, farm buildings, and paddocks, left feed crops submerged and washed away bales of winter supplementary feed," he says.
O'Connor says MPI along with government will continue to assess whether further support is needed as the full extent of the flood damage becomes more apparent over the coming weeks.
He says farmers needing help to manage feed shortages are encouraged to contact their levy body, such as DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand, or Federated Farmers. He says those needing support around dealing with floods are encouraged to visit the MPI Website.
