Newspaper Article 1994 – Some hail-hit growers need continuing help

Some hail-hit growers need continuing help

One in seven Hawke’s Bay pipfruit growers are receiving hand-outs from New Zealand Income Support Service and are said to need their payments extended until next year’s harvest.

Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers’ Association president David Mardon said yesterday Income Support’s six-month rural sector assistance programme – which would take most recipients through until September – would not tide them over until next year’s harvest.

“I believe they will need (income support) till they start getting money next year. It’s a long-term problem,” he said.

Of Hawke’s Bay’s 735 pipfruit growers, 104 are receiving emergency rural sector assistance after the March 2 hailstorm, which struck at the start of the apple picking season.

A married couple with one child receives $180 a week through the scheme, with that sum increased $10 for each additional child. Married couples without children receive $145, sole parents with one child $145 (increased $10 for each extra child), and single people $100.

A hail task force, established to co-ordinate relief efforts after the storm, met yesterday in what was expected to be a final meeting. However, it resolved to meet once more to call for an extension of income support, said Mr Mardon, a task force member.

East Coast Rural Support Co-ordinator Bill Cannington said a precedent-setting extension of support payments had been made in the past for debt-stricken kiwifruit growers. They had received support for a full 12 months.

Orchardists needed the money to buy groceries. If they could not get their assistance extended they would have to add to overdrafts and worsen their debt levels.

Mr Cannington said he was providing financial advice to 18 orchard clients with money troubles.

Mr Mardon said that a recent meeting between Fruitgrowers’ Association members and National MPs visiting Napier for a National Party conference recently he had been assured there would be no problem having the assistance package extended.

Income Support Hastings district manager Kevin Fromont said rural sector assistance had also been extended for South Island farmers hit by massive stock losses caused by snow in 1992.

His office would recommend an extension to the Wellington head office if orchardists requested it.

Photo caption – Mr Mardon