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.
Hawke's Bay Winegrowers Charitable Trust has set up a Cyclone Gabrielle Relief Fund, with 100% of donations to go to those most in need in the wine community.
The charitable trust will match donations up to $30,000.
Gisborne Winegrowers has set up a Cyclone Gabrielle Relief Fund via Sunrise Foundation with 100% of donations made to the fund going to those most in need in their wine community.
Other fundraising initiatives have been rolled out since the cyclone, including from wine companies and restaurants involved in 'Cooking up a Storm' last month, raising funds for flood victims.
For information on how to donate to the Hawke's Bay and Gisborne trusts, go to nzwine.com/cyclonegabrielle
MPI Recovery Fund
As of 14 March, 3% of all grants approved through the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Cyclone Gabrielle recovery fund - available for clean-up and recovery activities - were for vineyards.
MPI has also earmarked $4 million of targeted funding to help rural communities with immediate recovery efforts, through which $90,000 was granted to New Zealand Winegrowers to bring in expertise on vineyard recovery and $25,000 to Hawke's Bay Winegrowers to help with mental health and wellbeing programmes.
An MPI spokesperson said government was considering next steps for support as the impacted regions move to recover and rebuild from these events.
Cyclone Bola to Gabrielle
BRI has created a fact sheet using information gathered from growers who dealt with Cyclone Bola in 1988.
The destruction caused by both cyclones was similar in many respects, and some remediation and recovery approaches applied with Bola are relevant to the damage experienced by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Check it out at bri.co.nz..
