Drought on a farm in South Taranaki, March 2025. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
The government is extending Rural Assistance Payments to farmers affected by drought in the North Island and upper South Island.
In a statement, Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson and Social Development Minister Louise Upston encouraged farmers in affected areas to talk to their rural support trust to find out what help is available.
Eligible farmers would have the farm as their main source of income, and be finding it difficult to meet essential living costs due to the drought.
The payment amounts are equivalent to the jobseeker benefit, and can be lowered depending on earnings and any money or off-farm assets.
They will be available from next Monday 28 April to 28 October, in the following districts:
- Far North District Council
- Whangarei District Council
- Thames-Coromandel District Council
- Kaipara District Council
- Waikato District Council
- Hauraki District Council
- Matamata-Piako District Council
- Waipā District Council
- South Waikato District Council
- Rotorua Lakes Council
- Taupō District Council
- Hamilton City Council
- Ōtorohanga District Council
- Waitomo District Council
- New Plymouth District Council
- Stratford District Council
- South Taranaki District Council
- Whanganui District Council
- Ruapehu District Council
- Rangitikei District Council
- Manawatū District Council
- Horowhenua District Council
- Palmerston North City Council
- Tararua District Council
- Marlborough District Council
- Nelson City Council
- Tasman District Council
"We want to help eligible farmers whose income has been severely affected by drought-stricken conditions," Upston said.
"Droughts often have a sting in the tail with the cold tough winter months still to come. We know how hard it can be to recover from a drought, and we are here to support farmers through it," Patterson said.
