Cyclone-ravaged orchardists facing balance sheet woes
Many companies are financially mortally wounded by the effects of Cyclone Gabrielle and may have to sell up because of their high debt levels.
Ngai Tukairangi Trust chair Ratahi Cross was one of many people to have a narrow and frightening escape from the floodwaters that struck around Puketapu, north east of Napier and adjacent to Eskdale.
He was out at their orchard when the Ngauroro burst its banks and he suddenly turned around and saw the floodwaters lapping at the door of his truck.
"I jumped in and of course the water poured in, but the truck was running, so I decided to get back onto Swamp Road with the water chasing me and it was going as fast as my truck as well," he told Hort News.
"I got through to Omahu and I was trying to escape out there and then I saw the river had breached there as well. So, I headed towards the golf links, near Taradale, and tried to get out that way. By the time I got there the tar seal was floating and the river was raging under the tar seal and it had exploded out - I was absolutely trapped," he says.
Eventually, Cross and a group of about 50 people managed to scramble to high ground where they remained for 2 ½ days until they were able to get out. To add to the drama, a member of the group had a heart attack and it was only by chance that a member of the group had a Starlink phone and they were able to call in a rescue to take the person to hospital.
"It's such an amazing thing when you see a helicopter and you know it's coming to you - it's very uplifting," he says.
On the edge of the hot, dry Takapau plains, Norm and Del Atkins have cultivated a small but exceptional herd of 60 Holstein Friesian cows within their mixed breed herd of 360 dairy cows.
The DairyNZ board and management are currently trying to determine whether, and to what degree, their farmer levy payers will support any increase in their levy contributions.
Milk production is up nationally, despite drought conditions beginning to bite in some districts, according to the latest update from Fonterra.
Dry conditions are widespread but worse in some places, with rain and drought affecting farms just a few kilometres away.
The Government's plan to merge the seven crown institutes presents exciting possibilities for plant technology company Grasslanz Technology, says chief executive Megan Skiffington.
Agribusiness leader Rob Hewett is the new chair of listed carpet maker Bremworth.
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