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The region has been severely impacted by the cyclone’s aftermath, with power, roads, and communication only recently restored.
1News spoke with Nick Dawson, a dairy farmer from Patoka, just outside of Napier, who is being forced to cut his season by four months due to a lack of road access.
Dawson had to halt all milk production when the power went out, which caused significant problems for the welfare of his 460 animals.
“Our biggest issue right now is animal welfare; just getting stock water is a big issue,” he said.
“There’s also light and power for our stock water, so when that goes out, it’s pretty difficult.”
Dawson was unable to milk his cows for four days; when cows are not milked, they are susceptible to infections such as mastitis – he claims eight of his cows are affected.
He told 1News that production was up 26% for the year, making it the farm’s best season ever; however, Cyclone Gabrielle changed that.
Cows are being milked again, thanks to generators, but tankers are unable to enter the farm, forcing Dawson to dump milk.
“It’s ridiculous; there are people starving all over the world, and we’re dumping milk,” he said.
“I don’t think a tanker will come here for four to six months.”
Due to the early end of the season, Dawson is unable to get the product off the farm and thus cannot make a living. Fonterra, thankfully, will pay him for the last three years of average output.
He stated that the cyclone had altered the farm’s entire plan.
“You set your whole year around for this production, this milking and sheep and beef farms are the same; they’ve gotta get their product off the farm to make some money.
“Without them coming off, we’ve got to start thinking about winter rations, how we’re going to get through winter with the amount of grass we’ve got.”
Slips have destroyed Patrick Crawshaw’s land, which he also farms in the area.
Crawshaw, Patrick.
Crawshaw, Patrick. (Image courtesy of 1News)
He said it was difficult to see his land in the state it was in after the cyclone.
“We went through the process of [installing] hundreds of kilometres of fencing to protect the waterways, try and create biodiversity, stock management and things like that; it’s all in pieces now.
“It’s all rebuildable, but the task is enormous,” he explained.
While both men’s farms have been severely damaged, they agree that connecting the community and assisting those in need is the most important task.
“Last night, I turned on the TV for the first time in days, and we’ve got it easy,” Dawson said.
“Thoughts go out to people in town; we’re fine, we’re pretty self-sufficient; I think, look after them first and then work your way out.
“I’m fine with the work that we’ve got ahead of us and the process of getting that back in shape, but certainly out of our farm gate, it’s more about people’s welfare,” Crawshaw said.
