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RNZ News
18 hours ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Fencing for Tasman's 'bruised, battered', flood-hit farmers
Dansy and Greg Coppell of Repost, in Tasman after the floods. Photo: SUPPLIED/REPOST Tasman district farmers hit by recent floods are trying to piece their riverside farms back together, after losing land, livestock, bridges and key fencing infrastructure. A string of flooding events through late June and July resulted in widespread damage to roads, properties and farms - especially for those near major rivers, some of which burst their banks. Federated Farmers' Nelson president Kerry Irvine said there were a number of properties that were badly affected, and the situation had taken its toll on farmers. "There's still a lot of bruised and battered farmers out there; a lot of farms that still haven't really had a lot of work done to them, certainly regarding waterways," he said. "Most people don't really have money to spend on putting their capital back together on the farms, really." Irvine said there were many farmers who lost between 2-10 kilometres of fencing, and one up to 15 kilometres worth, that were ripped away by the floods. "It's literally all gone. Certainly fencing that's around any waterways it's not even existent anymore, it's just flattened or sitting out in the middle of the Tasman Bay somewhere. "And then, you've got to weigh up the odds, 'do I fence it?' 'Don't I fence it?' 'Or do I even change the the class of stock that I'm running?' "Some of the really badly affected farmers have actually just had had to sell their stock that they just had absolutely no option." The Tasman District Council announced on Monday, farmers, growers, foresters or fishers could apply for a new government-backed funding pool. Applicants must own property in Nelson or Tasman that earns over half its income from producing or harvesting food or fibre. Funding can go towards resilience projects like removing silt, debris, or fallen trees, clearing tracks, or repairing fencing. Repost in Tasman following the floods. Photo: SUPPLIED/REPOST Several community initiatives were underway to bring much-needed fencing materials to farmers in need, as fencing materials and labour were considered a significant spend for farmers. Sheep and beef farmers Greg and Dansy Coppell of St Arnaud in Marlborough have been recovering and repurposing old vineyard and orchard posts for the past five years with their Repost business, that diverted posts bound for landfill. The pair donated thousands of second-hand posts and strainers, including many sourced by the district council, at a string of community events held in Tasman's Ngātīmoti and Wakefield recently. They believed it helped more than 80 farmers with an estimated 120 kilometres worth of fencing. Co-founder Dansy Coppell said it was an "emotionally-charged" time helping flood-affected farmers, and they were well received. "I think it was really good because people could finally come and have yarns and get off farm, and just really work out what's going to be that one foot in front of the other," she said. "So I'm really proud that we did what we set out to do and we've carried on doing it for the last couple of weekends and sometimes during weekdays, and it's just been really positively received." She said she was grateful for the connections made with the community. "I'm actually honoured that people have shared their stories and opened up to us and offered us to come to their houses, have coffee. It's been a pretty amazing month." Repost in Tasman following the floods. Photo: SUPPLIED/REPOST In 2023, Repost donated more than 12,400 recycled fence posts to Hawke's Bay farmers in 2023 following the devastating Cyclone Gabrielle, working in conjunction with other groups, charities and government teams. Co-founder Greg Coppell said they learned a lot during their time in Hawke's Bay about the long road to recovery. He said emergency work was "the low hanging fruit" and the wider recovery was one step at a time. "It's a long game and we hear people going on about, 'it's a marathon' and that sort of stuff, and that's absolutely true, you just have to have a plan and just execute those bits, those little bits at a time. "And then hopefully, spring comes and things start looking a bit better and you can dry out and and start putting some things back in place. "But it's just one thing at a time." He said most of the emergency work was completed, but it was "still pretty rough" on a number of farms and properties. "There's been some staunch, pretty stoic sort of people that actually have shown themselves to us over the last month. "Generally, there's still there's a hell of work to do," he said. He said some of the larger properties received more attention than others, and not all farmers were insured, particularly for land or stock. Power was yet to return to the Coppell's sheep and beef farm which also sustained damage from the floods, and water systems too. The Coppell children also helped raise $750 through a recent fundraiser at Māpua School to cover freight costs for a load of posts. Charity Rapid Relief Trust will donate fencing packages worth thousands of dollars to Tasman district farmers and whānau later this month. The charity flew into Hawke's Bay after Cyclone Gabrielle in mid-2023 to similarly help disaster-hit farmers with fencing gear. Managing director Paul Simmons said bringing relief to people after disasters was emotional for all. "They are very emotional events. People are under huge amount of pressure," Simmons said. "And I we view it as a privilege together to show them some compassion and support." The upcoming event will be its seventh New Zealand event, and its first in the South Island. He said it was expecting to help at least 150 farmers at its community connect event. "I'd love to see as many as can come, do. They are on a morale boosting event. "I want every farmer leave that event with a smile on their face and just have the experience of a group of people there that have thought of them, considered for them, and want to care for them." Farmers should register on the Rapid Relief Trust website or phoneline by 22 August, ahead of the community event on 28 August in Tapawera. He said the initiative was funded purely by donations to the trust that was established by the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church in 2013. 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RNZ News
20-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
The business turning old vineyard post into farm fencing
Fencing can be a major cost for farmers, but one couple, have worked out a low-cost alternative using broken vineyard posts. Dansy and Greg Coppell made their first lot when they bought a farm near St Arnaud and urgently needed 30 kilometres. They've since been taking their custom machine to vineyards where they prepare the broken posts for their next life, and have diverted almost 9,000 tonnes of waste from landfill. Dansy and Greg Coppell are on the line.
