The Climate is Changing and So Must We.

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF

OANZ wants to acknowledge the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle earlier this month, and our thoughts go out to those impacted on the North Island. We cannot begin to imagine what it must have been like to experience such a traumatic weather event with lost lives, homes, farms and critical infrastructure. 

We now face looming questions about where and how to rebuild, with the knowledge of a climate crisis that will bring more storms, flooding and extreme weather in the years to come.

The climate is changing, and so must we. It’s time to talk about climate adaptation in our built environment and on our farms. In New Zealand, nearly half of our national greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture. So how we farm can make or break the health of our atmosphere. The good news is that organic farming is climate-friendly and could even counteract climate change if practised on a large enough scale.

For our farming communities, the focus is now on repair and rebuilding; financial support is available to help with this process. The Government is providing $25 million to help farmers, growers, and whenua Māori owners recover from Cyclone Gabrielle. Any pastoral or arable farmer/grower or grower significantly affected by Cyclone Gabrielle can apply. Find out more here.

If you are in a position to donate money or your time to help with the rebuilding process, check out this great resource from RNZ.

Kia Kaha

Tiffany Tompkins

OANZ CEO