Serratia-linked Mastitis a wake-up call for Waikato farmer
Waikato farmer Craig Clausen had an unpleasant experience after an outbreak of mastitis cases on farm, suspected to be caused by the pathogen Serratia.
ASB is rolling out more community bankers across New Zealand, providing targeted coaching and seminars to help customers with their personal finance needs.
The community bankers will work with customers in areas they’d like additional support such as boosting their financial wellbeing and the switch to online banking, with services provided either one-on-one or in small groups depending on the person’s needs.
The programme comes off the back of a pilot of the programme performed in Northland, Waikato, and Auckland in 2021.
Over 1,000 customers were reached through the pilot, with support pivoting to ‘care calls’ during lockdown periods and more than 2,000 customers helped by phone.
ASB executive general manager retail banking Adam Boyd says the pilot received positive feedback and the remit of community bankers has now expanded to include financial wellbeing seminars and in-person support for vulnerable customers, new-to-employment seminars covering how to budget, pay bills online and more for new workers as well as workshops for customers who are speakers of other languages.
“It was clear during the pilot that customers really valued the opportunity to meet in person with a community banker. With cost-of-living concerns, the time is right to extend the focus of the programme to ensure we’re helping build financial resilience,” says Boyd.
Community bankers are now available across the North Island and in the central and southern regions of the South Island.
“Our community bankers are mobile and able to travel to wherever they are needed. This will be especially helpful for customers who find it difficult to get to their local branch or are based in remote locations. We are currently recruiting for a Nelson-based community banker to fully round out our nationwide coverage,” says Boyd.
“Community bankers are here to help. Whether you’re just starting out in the workforce, or you’ve been a long-time customer, our community banking team can provide extra support to help boost your financial or everyday banking skills.”
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
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