November 23, 2025 • 7 mins
Simon Hopcroft looks at the situation in the south after the wind events of a month ago.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
This is a muster on hakauis. Simon Hotcroft is the
chair of the South and Rural Support Trust. Of course,
over the past couple of weeks we've been catching up
with different farmers and people involved in rural industries talking
about mindset after the wind of the wind events of
coming up five weeks ago this week and just how
they're what they do basically to negate times of trying
(00:30):
I suppose, and of course this is in conjunction with
Community Trust South as well. Thanks very much for their support.
Si'm a good afternoon. Always good to catch up.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
How are you going, Andy, You're.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Going pretty good mate. Look, yeah, we've been doing this
campaign for the past couple of weeks, been interested to
get the perspectives from people involved in different parts of
the sector.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
No, it's been really good and I appreciate you acknowledging
the Community Trust South for their contribution Andy, along with
roal support. It's been good to do. It's been a
good program and yeah, I think I think over the
last two weeks that we've done it, there's been a
good some great messaging from in particular from the farmers
(01:11):
that have provided input and then it was good to
have Mark Petterson on the other day just to provide
a wee bit perspective from sort of that central government end.
But no, thanks very much. I think it's gone well.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Yeah, I talked to Mark about this the other day.
We mentioned it briefly off fair Simon and that us
regarding rural connectivity and the lack of cell phone network.
They're talking about three G going offline. This is something
that needs needs to get pushed.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Oh. Absolutely, And we had a stakeholder meeting last week
with a sort of quarterly meeting for the trust and
it came through from some feedback from our stakeholders as
that was the biggest issue to get comms out an
air end but also their end. So first things first
(01:59):
is to really push make sure that we're sending that
messaging down and getting that sorted.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
So is that the big thing from ourself and Ural
Support Trust viewpoint at the moment. A bit of a
reflection on what's occurred and what change is going forward.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Yeah, we were able to take the opportunity, I guess
from you know, from looking back, and last week we
had a good debrief as a trust to say, well,
you know, what could we actually do better to through
that response period, I suppose, and then also getting that
stakeholder input around what they've seen and what they thought
(02:36):
went well and you know, what could be done better,
and then Emergency Management South and we're in that rown
in that stakeholder meeting as well, so we were able
to provide some feedback then, but we're actually doing a
sort of I guess we'll go through into a post
event review from a trust perspective and then be able
to sort of feed that back to Emergency Management South
(02:58):
and then hopefully we can you know, then actually when
we're going to another event, actually be better prepared. And
as a trust, we've definitely got opportunities to be better
prepared going into another event, and certainly the calm side
of it was challenging, and I think that's as one
(03:19):
that we can get pretty good runs on the board
by getting that sorted, and that would help out a lot.
So yeah, a.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Lot of the farmers I'm speaking to at the moment, Simon,
they've acknowledged the situation, but they're just having to carry
on with the farm where I can realize, and they've
just got a bit of a missionary here to get
their infrastructure back up to speed that be about.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Right, Yeah, beg on andy. Basically most farmers have sort
of either come up with a plan and are waiting
on maybe contractors to come in and do some of
the heavy lifting stuff, and then some have already got
in and had a bit of a clean up. It
was sort of eighty percent through a cleanup on farm
(04:00):
but just set nugally little stuff to finish off and
get some fences tied it up. But yeah, I guess
it's those that are waiting on contractors. Just be patient.
They are busy and they've obviously got other things they
do as part of their contracting business as well, so
this is sort of an extra load on them, so
I guess, but just be weary that they're busy as well.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Now Southland riveral Riders and Surfing for Farmers they're back
up and running again, so it's an outlet for people
this week if they're wanting to take a bit of
a break, there are certainly ways to get out there
and have a bit of a reset as such.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Yeah, absolutely so Surfing for Farmers starts Thursday at six.
That'll Katerina will post up where that'll be one of
those three beaches based around sort of Riverton and Ye
Rural Riders. Real Riders started maybe two weeks ago, I
think so O Wednesday night made it bet South at
Winton at six thirty to get those underway for the summer.
(05:02):
And we'll look forward to seeing a fuel on to that. Yeah.
And then one of the other things we've got coming
up with obviously field Days, Southern field Days in February actually,
and we've got a bit of a fundraiser going on
there in conjunction with Adam Newton Homes, so he's kindly
(05:22):
offered us an opportunity to build a house that will
be auctioned at field Days, so he'll do that at cost.
And some of the suppliers have provided some product that
are cheaping, so really looking for to see how that
rolls through come field Days.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
And I suppose the final thing is as well, like
just regarding self and real support for just the number
for people to get in touch is eight hundred and
seven eight seven two five four. Somebody needs like they
feel like they need to have a conversation, that phone
has always taken care of.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Right, Yeah, absolutely, and that's the phone number and your
strictly confidential service. Our operational team will help out at
the end of that and they do a great job
and so make sure you know that people can either
refer the use of that or just call yourself good
(06:15):
only A.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Simon always appreciated your time on the muster. We'll catch
up again and like I say, thanks to South and
Ural Support Trust and as well Community Trusts South being
involved over the past couple of weeks a lot of
great information was shed.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Thanks Andy, much appreciated chair.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Simon Hotcraft South and Ural Support Trust Chair. Just on
that note as well, of course a sudden storms shout
happening this Thursday in November the twenty seventh at Nigel
whatdheads Farm It levels flat halfway between Milton and Bellcluther
from three o'clock. Emerson's tiny pub's going to be the
Spates Bar silverfar and Farm's got the Barbie Milton Lions
giving you a right home in the South Otago region
(06:54):
and coffee and ice cream there is courtesy of A
and Z. So that's happening Thursday afternoon Nigel what his from.
Paul Miller's up next to talk about of rugby before
we wrap up for the hour. Oh Wood Vanta
This is a muster on hakauis. Simon Hotcroft is the
chair of the South and Rural Support Trust. Of course,
over the past couple of weeks we've been catching up
with different farmers and people involved in rural industries talking
about mindset after the wind of the wind events of
coming up five weeks ago this week and just how
they're what they do basically to negate times of trying
(00:30):
I suppose, and of course this is in conjunction with
Community Trust South as well. Thanks very much for their support.
Si'm a good afternoon. Always good to catch up.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
How are you going, Andy, You're.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Going pretty good mate. Look, yeah, we've been doing this
campaign for the past couple of weeks, been interested to
get the perspectives from people involved in different parts of
the sector.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
No, it's been really good and I appreciate you acknowledging
the Community Trust South for their contribution Andy, along with
roal support. It's been good to do. It's been a
good program and yeah, I think I think over the
last two weeks that we've done it, there's been a
good some great messaging from in particular from the farmers
(01:11):
that have provided input and then it was good to
have Mark Petterson on the other day just to provide
a wee bit perspective from sort of that central government end.
But no, thanks very much. I think it's gone well.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Yeah, I talked to Mark about this the other day.
We mentioned it briefly off fair Simon and that us
regarding rural connectivity and the lack of cell phone network.
They're talking about three G going offline. This is something
that needs needs to get pushed.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Oh. Absolutely, And we had a stakeholder meeting last week
with a sort of quarterly meeting for the trust and
it came through from some feedback from our stakeholders as
that was the biggest issue to get comms out an
air end but also their end. So first things first
(01:59):
is to really push make sure that we're sending that
messaging down and getting that sorted.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
So is that the big thing from ourself and Ural
Support Trust viewpoint at the moment. A bit of a
reflection on what's occurred and what change is going forward.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Yeah, we were able to take the opportunity, I guess
from you know, from looking back, and last week we
had a good debrief as a trust to say, well,
you know, what could we actually do better to through
that response period, I suppose, and then also getting that
stakeholder input around what they've seen and what they thought
(02:36):
went well and you know, what could be done better,
and then Emergency Management South and we're in that rown
in that stakeholder meeting as well, so we were able
to provide some feedback then, but we're actually doing a
sort of I guess we'll go through into a post
event review from a trust perspective and then be able
to sort of feed that back to Emergency Management South
(02:58):
and then hopefully we can you know, then actually when
we're going to another event, actually be better prepared. And
as a trust, we've definitely got opportunities to be better
prepared going into another event, and certainly the calm side
of it was challenging, and I think that's as one
(03:19):
that we can get pretty good runs on the board
by getting that sorted, and that would help out a lot.
So yeah, a.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Lot of the farmers I'm speaking to at the moment, Simon,
they've acknowledged the situation, but they're just having to carry
on with the farm where I can realize, and they've
just got a bit of a missionary here to get
their infrastructure back up to speed that be about.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Right, Yeah, beg on andy. Basically most farmers have sort
of either come up with a plan and are waiting
on maybe contractors to come in and do some of
the heavy lifting stuff, and then some have already got
in and had a bit of a clean up. It
was sort of eighty percent through a cleanup on farm
(04:00):
but just set nugally little stuff to finish off and
get some fences tied it up. But yeah, I guess
it's those that are waiting on contractors. Just be patient.
They are busy and they've obviously got other things they
do as part of their contracting business as well, so
this is sort of an extra load on them, so
I guess, but just be weary that they're busy as well.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Now Southland riveral Riders and Surfing for Farmers they're back
up and running again, so it's an outlet for people
this week if they're wanting to take a bit of
a break, there are certainly ways to get out there
and have a bit of a reset as such.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Yeah, absolutely so Surfing for Farmers starts Thursday at six.
That'll Katerina will post up where that'll be one of
those three beaches based around sort of Riverton and Ye
Rural Riders. Real Riders started maybe two weeks ago, I
think so O Wednesday night made it bet South at
Winton at six thirty to get those underway for the summer.
(05:02):
And we'll look forward to seeing a fuel on to that. Yeah.
And then one of the other things we've got coming
up with obviously field Days, Southern field Days in February actually,
and we've got a bit of a fundraiser going on
there in conjunction with Adam Newton Homes, so he's kindly
(05:22):
offered us an opportunity to build a house that will
be auctioned at field Days, so he'll do that at cost.
And some of the suppliers have provided some product that
are cheaping, so really looking for to see how that
rolls through come field Days.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
And I suppose the final thing is as well, like
just regarding self and real support for just the number
for people to get in touch is eight hundred and
seven eight seven two five four. Somebody needs like they
feel like they need to have a conversation, that phone
has always taken care of.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Right, Yeah, absolutely, and that's the phone number and your
strictly confidential service. Our operational team will help out at
the end of that and they do a great job
and so make sure you know that people can either
refer the use of that or just call yourself good
(06:15):
only A.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Simon always appreciated your time on the muster. We'll catch
up again and like I say, thanks to South and
Ural Support Trust and as well Community Trusts South being
involved over the past couple of weeks a lot of
great information was shed.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Thanks Andy, much appreciated chair.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Simon Hotcraft South and Ural Support Trust Chair. Just on
that note as well, of course a sudden storms shout
happening this Thursday in November the twenty seventh at Nigel
whatdheads Farm It levels flat halfway between Milton and Bellcluther
from three o'clock. Emerson's tiny pub's going to be the
Spates Bar silverfar and Farm's got the Barbie Milton Lions
giving you a right home in the South Otago region
(06:54):
and coffee and ice cream there is courtesy of A
and Z. So that's happening Thursday afternoon Nigel what his from.
Paul Miller's up next to talk about of rugby before
we wrap up for the hour. Oh Wood Vanta
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