Farmers and growers in the Hauraki–Waikato region are being encouraged to attend an emergency preparedness workshop in Mangatangi as rural communities continue to face increasingly frequent severe weather events.
The workshop will be held on 4 May at Mangatangi Hall as part of a nationwide series of Catchment Emergency Preparedness Workshops announced by Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay and Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson.
The events aim to help farmers and growers develop practical plans for responding to storms, flooding and other emergencies that can disrupt farms, damage infrastructure and threaten animal welfare.
McClay said recent severe weather has highlighted the need for better preparation in rural areas.
“Significant rainfall and flooding this summer have caused damage to farms and orchards, and had an impact on freight, transport and other infrastructure,” he said.
“Farmers and growers have shown significant resilience getting through recent storms and ensuring the welfare of their animals. These workshops will help in emergency preparedness.”
The Mangatangi meeting is one of several being held around the country and will focus on helping rural landowners develop farm emergency plans and better prepare for adverse events.
Communities across the wider Hauraki District and neighbouring rural parts of the Waikato Region have experienced repeated severe weather impacts in recent years.
The region was heavily affected during the devastating floods that struck the North Island during Cyclone Gabrielle and the earlier Auckland Anniversary floods, which caused widespread slips, flooding and damage to rural infrastructure.
More recently, heavy rainfall events over the past summer have again disrupted farms, roads and supply routes in parts of the district.
Patterson said rural communities are often among the most exposed when extreme weather strikes.
“Rural communities are highly exposed to the impacts of emergencies, and preparation is key,” he said.
“The workshops are designed to be practical to help rural New Zealanders prepare for and respond to adverse events.”
The workshops are supported by resources including farm emergency planning templates and adverse event preparedness checklists available through the Ministry for Primary Industries and the NZ Landcare Trust.
The Mangatangi workshop will run from 10am to 4pm on 4 May at Mangatangi Hall.
