Meals, Feed & Mateship: RRT Backs 151 Taranaki Farmers at Hāwera Event
The Rapid Relief Team (RRT) New Zealand provided vital support to drought-affected farmers at the Farmers Community Connect (FCC) event held on Friday 2 May at the Egmont Showgrounds in Hāwera.
Gates opened at 7:30am, and despite wind and rain, the event ran smoothly through to 1:30pm, with a steady flow of farmers and cheerful, rain-soaked volunteers creating a welcoming and uplifting atmosphere.
In total, 151 farmers from across Taranaki received practical support, with over 300 one-tonne bulk bags of donated stock feed distributed. In the lead-up to the event, 13 truckloads of stock feed were transported to the site by a team of dedicated RRT volunteers, ensuring everything was ready for smooth distribution on the day.
"This donation will help us enormously, to underpin the young stock, to get them through the next 6 weeks or so."
Murray Brown, Taranaki Farmer
The warm hospitality didn’t stop at stock feed—150 bacon & egg rolls were served fresh for breakfast, followed by 170 of RRT’s Signature Beef Burgers for lunch, giving farmers a chance to enjoy hearty meals and some well-earned downtime.
A range of local support services were also on site, including health professionals, rural financial counsellors, and veterinary advisors, offering trusted advice and guidance in a relaxed, no-pressure setting.
"It's just a token to keep them encouraged and help find a way forward for them."
Cameron Prestidge, RRT Director
This was the seventh Farmers Community Connect event supported by RRT NZ—and notably, the first to include stock feed distribution, marking a significant milestone in RRT’s commitment to rural New Zealand communities.
