The call has gone out for volunteers to help farmers caught in the floods.
Waitotara township Photo: SUPPLIED
Rural support trusts in the Taranaki, Whanganui and Manawatu regions were working together with Federated Farmers to organise help for those who need it.
Ruapehu-Whanganui Trust coordinator Lyn Neeson said they were organising relief on a number of fronts.
"We've sent out a North Island call as well as a local call for people to go down and help the farmers fix up fences for their stock, maybe clear slips, clear trees.
"So we've sent a call out for any farmers that want to go down and help for a few days because of course, those hill country farmers helped other regions in adverse events in the past.
"We've also requested digger drivers and fencers, because we know they'll be in demand in the next month at least.
"We've also opened up the Federated Farmers 0800 Feed-line and are co-ordinating feed for either grazing off farm, or feed to be delivered on farm, because a lot of the low-lying area is the cropping area that would have been these farmers' winter feed, so they're under water and it looks like it will be a tight winter if we don't get some feed into that area."
Meanwhile, the Government has also stepped up support by activating the Enhanced Task Force Green programme to help with clean-up operations in the Whanganui area.
And the Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy was expected to make an adverse weather event declaration tomorrow when he visits flood affected areas in Rangitikei, triggering further support measures.
The Federated Farmers feed line is 0800 327 646. The Rural Support Trust number is 0800 465 220.
