Source: New Zealand Government
The Government is backing rural New Zealand by supporting 18 community-based initiatives through its Rural Wellbeing Fund, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey say.
“We established the fund mid-last year to boost wellbeing programmes that support the rural sector,” Mr McClay says.
“These initiatives will ensure farmers and growers have the support they need to thrive.”
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says the Government is committed to delivering faster access to mental health support, including for the one in five people who live in rural communities.
“We’ve focused on supporting proposals that can have the greatest impact on the ground, as well as new initiatives targeting gaps,” Mr Doocey says.
“Partnering with grassroots organisations enables the Government funding to go further and make a real difference.”
The Ministry for Primary Industries and Health New Zealand each allocated $2 million over four years for the fund through Budget 2025.
Note for editors:
| Organisations/programmes receiving funding through the Rural Wellbeing Fund | Funding amount |
| Whatever With Wiggy Charitable Trust | $740,000 |
| The Whanau Ora Community Clinic Ltd | $716,000 |
| The NZ Federation of Young Farmers Clubs Incorporated | $585,000 |
| Seafood Sector Support Network Trust (FirstMate) | $550,000 |
| Life-Supporting Communities NZ (Be A Mate) | $400,000 |
| Farmstrong Charitable Trust | $399,250 |
| Surfing for Farmers Charitable Trust | $160,000 |
| Tuākana Tēina Kaiārahi Ltd | $90,000 |
| Ara Taiohi Incorporated | $70,000 |
| NZ Shearing Contractors Association (Live Well, Shear Well) | $50,000 |
| Mates of Tairāwhiti Charitable Trust | $50,000 |
| OTS Limited (Livemewell) | $48,400 |
| Te Manu Korero O Nga Matauranga Central King Country REAP | $40,000 |
| Spark That Chat Ltd | $20,000 |
| DB Farming Ltd T/A Deanne Parkes | $15,000 |
| Dominion Federation of New Zealand Chinese Commercial Growers Incorporated | $15,000 |
| The Aoraki Multicultural Council T/A Multicultural Aoraki | $12,000 |
| Blueprint NZ Limited | $11,876 |
| Total | $3.97 million |
