1 Sep 2014

Rural trust assesses flood damage

7:41 am on 1 September 2014

Northland Rural Support Trust will have a clearer idea today of the extent of damage and disruption from weekend's downpours, co-ordinator Julie Jonker says.

It is the third time in a month the region has been battered by heavy rain, bringing fresh flooding to farms in areas such as Kaeo.

Ms Jonker said according to reports she had had, eastern areas and the Far North had copped the worst of it this time.

She said the areas affected earlier this month were hit again.

"Apart from the physical effect, which is the fact that the rain is falling on pastures that are already saturated and pastures that we're trying to get re-established after the flooding, it's the psychological impact," she said.

"You know, when you suddenly hear that rain coming again and you're well into calving now, to have that rain just coming down and you know it's going to turn the pastures to mush and you'll be working really hard to prevent pugging, is quite stressful."

Ms Jonker urged Northland farmers hit by flooding again this time to contact the Rural Support Trust, which could provide advice and help with the clean up. She said Task Force Green teams were still working in the region.