Council is collaborating with local accounting firm MCI & Associates Ltd to investigate the long-term economic effects of Cyclone Gabrielle and other challenges on the Tararua District farming community. Given that nearly 70% of our land is rural, agriculture is a crucial part of our district. Understanding how this sector is coping after the cyclone is essential.

The project aims to understand the economic impact of Cyclone Gabrielle on our rural sector and to raise awareness and find local solutions to better support our farming communities. MCI & Associates are generously co-funding the project, demonstrating their dedication and commitment to our district. Six years’ worth of data (2019-2025) from cyclone-affected areas in Northern and Eastern Tararua will be gathered.

Mayor Tracey emphasised the significance of this work, stating, “Our farmers have shown incredible resilience in the face of Cyclone Gabrielle. This collaboration with MCI & Associates is an important step towards understanding and addressing the economic pressures on our farming community. By gathering detailed data over several years, we can fully comprehend the ongoing impact of Cyclone Gabrielle on our farming sector. This initiative will provide us, and partner agencies, with the insights needed to make informed decisions and secure the necessary support for our farmers.”

The report will be created anonymously and confidentially. The Council will not receive any raw data; all information will be averaged across the area. These reports are expected in February 2025 and February 2026.

We’ll be looking at a broad range of financial indicators—things like spending on repairs, fuel, wages, interest payments, and gross farm revenue. Plus, feedback from about 80 farms through annual interviews, focusing on cyclone-related repairs and how budgets have been stretched to accommodate these unexpected costs.