Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy (R) with Dunedin City Councillor Mike Lord. Photo Stephen JaquieryMinister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy has this morning declared the flooding event which has devastated the Taieri Plain a medium scale adverse event. The declaration triggers additional funding and support for those affected by the deluge which battered eastern Otago on July 21-22. It included rural support payments, taxation flexibility and technical extension support services. The Otago Rural Support Trust was doing its part by providing farmers with some funding and with professional and mental health advice, this was so farmers did not have to wait for public counselling.

Source: Otago Daily Times July 31, 2017 23:37 UTC