Rural health leaders call for better mental health resources, Federated Farmers and Fish & Game to meet over tensions, and real estate market shows renewed energy with rising farm sales.

Welcome to Proud Country's Early Bird - The top things you need to know that impact rural New Zealand delivered to you by 5am, because who doesn’t need better chat beyond the weather!

 

Rural health leaders call for better mental health resources

Rural health leaders are urging the government to better recognize mental health needs in rural communities, as consultation winds up on the national wellbeing initiative.

Today is Gumboot Friday, a day earmarked to raise funds for counselling services for every young New Zealander 25 years old and under.

Recent data reveals concerning trends in rural areas. Men living outside urban centres encounter mental health challenges at rates forty percent higher than city residents. Women in rural areas also experience elevated risk levels.

Young rural workers remain particularly vulnerable, according to Massey University research, those working in remote areas, including young agricultural workers and high country team members, need additional attention and resources..

Many rural areas include Māori communities, who encounter additional challenges. Recent national data indicates higher risk levels among Māori residents, highlighting the need to direct more resources toward rural Māori wellbeing initiatives.

Rural health leaders recommend creating dedicated rural strategies within the national initiative. They want acknowledgment that distance, isolation, and limited medical teams require unique answers tailored to rural life.

If you need to talk to someone a list of providers and contact details are in this episodes description.

Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254

Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357

Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). 

Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202

Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)

Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz

Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155

OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm)

What's Up: Free counselling for 5 to 19 years old, online chat 11am-10.30pm 7days/week or free phone 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 11am-11pm 

Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm or text 832 Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and English.

Healthline: 0800 611 116

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

Gumboot Friday https://www.gumbootfriday.org.nz/

Federated Farmers and Fish & Game to meet over tensions

A crucial meeting between agricultural and recreational leaders hopes to resolve mounting tensions over rural waterway access. 

Fish & Game and Federated Farmers will meet to address challenges emerging from a recent court ruling. That decision might require additional oversight for all animal farming activities.

Fed Farmers Southland president Jason Herrick says many rural residents hold recreation licences and have long allowed water access across their land. He argues the recent legal action undermines this traditional rural arrangement.

The legal matter emerged when Southland Fish and Game, together with environmental advocates, challenged regional water management rules. The resulting Court decision indicates animal-related activities could need additional oversight.

Environment Minister Penny Simmonds indicates the ruling creates unmanageable requirements, and has announced her team will review relevant regulations to create more realistic rules.

Rural leaders want immediate action, noting the ruling could affect animal farmers nationwide, not only the three thousand in our southern regions. 

The meeting aims to address these tensions and maintain traditional access arrangements that have long allowed anglers to reach waterways through rural land. These agreements have historically relied on mutual understanding between rural communities and recreational users.

 

Vegetable costs may double as growing regulations tighten

A new economic report reveals households may soon experience major increases in vegetable costs unless regulatory changes occur immediately. The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research warns that common items like broccoli could reach nine dollars a head under current regulatory directions.

The analysis, commissioned by Horticulture New Zealand, examines how regional interpretations of national water regulations might reduce vegetable production by up to twenty percent. This reduction could trigger price increases ranging from twenty to one hundred percent across common vegetables.

NZIER’s Chris Nixon indicates these dramatic increases stem from council interpretations of the National Water Management regulations. Without immediate action to create more workable rules, vegetable growing areas could experience severe limitations on production.

Horticulture New Zealand's Michelle Sands says that domestic growers already maintain strong environmental standards through existing agricultural certification. The industry now advocates for national recognition of vegetable growing as essential infrastructure, allowing continued production while meeting environmental requirements.

The situation holds particular urgency as New Zealand relies heavily on local production, with more than eighty percent of vegetables consumed domestically coming from local growers. Unlike other agricultural products, the nation cannot readily increase vegetable imports to meet demand.

The sector is calling on the government to create clear national guidelines recognizing both environmental and food security needs to ensure New Zealanders continue to access affordable, locally-grown produce.

 

New board member with deep farming roots joins Beef and Lamb New Zealand

A new rural leader with decade-long governance experience joins the Beef and Lamb New Zealand board this month. Hazel Cairns-Willemsen takes on the role as Associate Director, bringing extensive knowledge in agriculture and Māori land management from Monday.

Her achievement record includes enhancing rural income and leading environmental initiatives through her trustee roles at Hurakia Trust and Te Tarata Trust. These roles demonstrate her talent in advancing rural interests while maintaining environmental care.

A recent graduate of the Fonterra Governance and Development initiative, she now joins the national board to enhance her leadership abilities while adding value to our meat industry's direction.

The Associate Director role, running twelve months, creates learning opportunities at the highest level of agricultural governance. Many who've held this role now serve as directors on national agricultural boards, showing the initiative's worth in developing rural leaders.

Kate Acland, who leads the Beef and Lamb New Zealand board, says Cairns-Willemsen's hands-on understanding of land management will enhance their work. Her insight comes at an important time as our meat and wool industries advance toward a resilient tomorrow.

The appointment adds to an already diverse leadership team, which includes six directors elected directly from  farming communities, two meat industry leaders, and one independent director. 

This addition to the board maintains the agricultural sector's tradition of developing new leaders who understand both traditional knowledge and modern requirements. 

 

Real estate market shows renewed energy with rising farm sales

Rural land sales are showing renewed energy, with latest data revealing a marked increase in farm sales nationwide. The Real Estate Institute's latest review indicates total farm sales climbed more than twenty-six percent over recent months.

Market activity increased across most regions, with Manawatu-Wanganui and Canterbury leading the way. The median land value reached twenty-seven thousand, nine hundred dollars per hectare, marking a thirteen percent rise against last year.

The market revival stems from enhanced dairy returns and improved lending conditions, showing heightened interest in premium dairy holdings.

The data reveals changing trends across different farming categories with challenges remaining in certain areas. The meat and wool sector continues navigating through testing times, with lower returns affecting market confidence in some regions.