Friday, 17 October 2014 10:47

Taskforce Green crews end storm work

Written by 

FIFTEEN ENHANCED Taskforce Green members hired to help clean up storm-affected Northland farms, horticultural operations and orchards have ended their three month stint.

 

Bill Shepherd, chairman of the Northland Regional Council, says the ETFG crew had spent almost 5000 hours helping get the rural sector back on its feet post-storm. The council employed the crews and co-ordinated their employment under the Civil Defence umbrella.

The temporary employment programme is funded by the Ministry of Social Development to help regions recover from adverse events like the storm and the initiative had been a great local success in that regard, says Shepherd.

"The crews – two based out of Whangarei and one out of Kaikohe – have been absolutely fantastic. We've been really impressed by their commitment, willingness to help and the positive work ethic and good attitude they've demonstrated."

Eighty-seven properties all over the mid and Far North had been visited and a range of work carried out. "The crews concentrated on removing and clearing storm-damaged trees and crops for the first several weeks, before shifting into removing debris from paddocks and clearing/repairing fence lines."

Shepherd says the work the teams had carried out had been well-received by both those directly benefiting in the rural sector, but also from other agencies elsewhere in New Zealand which were keen to follow Northland's example.

"They're looking to Northland guidance and/or advice in the event those regions ever need to set up a similar response of their own."

An afternoon tea put on by the various parties behind the scheme – including the regional council, Ministry of Social Development and the Rural Support Trust – had been held in Whangarei yesterday (subs: Thursday 16 October) to thank crew members for all their hard work.

Councillor Shepherd says while authorities in Northland are hopeful the crews will not need to be called on again anytime soon, it was very comforting to know that the system in place over the past three months could be used so successfully.

More like this

Altogether Unique: Northland

Northland has had a wet and challenging season, requiring a vigilant spray programme and plenty of work to keep grass and canopies under control.

ASB rolls out more community bankers

ASB is rolling out more community bankers across New Zealand, providing targeted coaching and seminars to help customers with their personal finance needs.

Featured

Editorial: Drought dilemma

OPINION: As of last Thursday, five regions – Taranaki, Northland, Waikato, Horizons and Marlborough-Tasman – had been declared medium-scale adverse events.

Awards to boost farm ownership goals

Two new Awards have been developed for the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) programme that will help some farmers on their journey to farm ownership.

Fonterra gives $250,000 for wetlands repair

Through its new partnership with New Zealand Landcare Trust, Fonterra has committed to funding ten $25,000 grants for wetland restoration in communities across the country.

National

Machinery & Products

Alpego eyes electric power harrow

Distributed by OriginAg in New Zealand, Italian manufacturer Alpego recently showed its three metre Alysium electric power harrow at the…

New seed drill tech coming

Incorporating Vaderstad's latest seed drill technology, the Proceed V 24, is said to improve precision and increase planting efficiencies for…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Waffle man

OPINION: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon sometimes can't escape his own corporate instinct for evasion, and in what should have been…

Banks on notice

OPINION: Shane 'Matua' Jones, crusader against all things woke, including "woke banks", couldn't have scripted it better when his NZ…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter