increase font size
The sad fact of life during the Kaikoura earthquake has been CD’s lack of understanding of the needs of rural people.
Civil Defence, or ‘Emergency Management’ as it prefers to be called, must put its staff and volunteers through a rural awareness course.
The sad fact of life during the Kaikoura earthquake has been CD’s lack of understanding of the needs of rural people.
We may feel for urban people whose homes have been destroyed and jobs put on hold. But do urban people, especially those in CD, truly understand the plight of farmers? Many of them have also lost their homes, and lack basic necessities, but they carry the added responsibility of caring for stock -- cows, sheep, cattle, deer or man’s best friend, the farm dog.
CD people don’t get this, and understandably farmers in North Canterbury have been beside themselves with anger and frustration at the inflexible, bureaucratic approach of some well-meaning volunteers dealing with farmers at a local level.
Yes, safety is important, but some behaviour of the civil defence people beggars belief. Understandably, care is essential on the inland route to Kaikoura, but serious questions arise about the management of this road issue.
Even the Acting Minister of Civil Defence, Gerry Brownlee, has asked questions about the workings of the CD response and so he should.
Farmers may be forgiven for feeling they have been dealt a bad hand by CD. Its role rightly includes restoring calm, but in this case CD people have added to farmers’ woes by being impractical and non-pragmatic. The CD approach has seemed to many rural people to be, “If it’s not in the CD manual we don’t do it”. Sorry, but that’s daft!
CD may easily observe damage to buildings in Wellington, and rule that workers stay away. It requires a bit more thinking, a lighter touch -- and, to be fair, training -- for CD to appreciate the plight of a dairy farmer whose rotary milking platform has been jolted off its rollers.
Consider the plight of a farmer plagued by landslips, destroyed fences and stock going bush, and without tracks for stock mustering and no digger access for track repair. For him then to be told by dad’s army that he can’t go home -- for what seem spurious reasons -- is the final straw.
The Kaikoura quake highlights again the enduring gap between town and country, especially at the level of officialdom.
Brownlee had better ring some changes.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has announced that it will lead a national effort to increase the number of New Zealanders trained to care for and handle companion animals during civil defence emergencies.
As storms and flooding continue to batter the East Coast, the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman has issued advice for those impacted and looking to claim with their insurer.
Minister for Emergency Management Mark Mitchell says the Mayoral Fund has been triggered, activating $300,000 for regional recovery after severe weather hit the East Coast this week.
States of Emergency have been declared in Haumoana, Wairoa and Hastings after storms have once again battered the East Coast of the North Island.
This week is the final chance for communities to share their experiences in support of an independent review of the Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group’s response to Cyclone Gabrielle.
New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.
With much of the North Island experiencing drought this summer and climate change projected to bring drier and hotter conditions, securing New Zealand’s freshwater resilience is vital, according to state-owned GNS Science.
OPINION: Otago farmer and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.
For Wonky Box co-founder Angus Simms, the decision to open the service to those in rural areas is a personal one.
The golden age of orcharding in West Auckland was recently celebrated at the launch of a book which tells the story of its rise, then retreat in the face of industry change and urban expansion.
Everyone from experienced veterinarians and young professionals to the Wormwise programme and outstanding clinics have been recognised in this year’s New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) awards. As part of a series looking at this year’s rural winners, Leo Argent talked with Ginny Dodunski, winner of the Veterinary Impact Award for raising the profile of the Wormwise programme.
OPINION: Should Greenpeace be stripped of their charitable status? Farmers say yes.
OPINION: After years of financial turmoil, Canterbury milk processor Synlait is now back in business.
