GrainCorp’s teams in New Zealand have rallied together to support farmers and colleagues affected by the devastation of Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle.

With communities in recovery mode following floods on the North Island, staff from GrainCorp’s Feeds and Liquid Terminals businesses have been offering support to residents and supporting clean-up efforts.

In Napier, which was severely impacted by the cyclone, GrainCorp operates a Bulk Liquid Terminals site, which fortunately has had minimal impact from the disaster.

Craig Stewart is GrainCorp’s Terminal Manager at Napier and has helped to lead the team’s recovery support efforts in the Hawke’s Bay region.

“There was utter devastation when the flood waters first hit,” Craig says. “Roads looked like a war zone and without power, no one could pump heat or access hot water.

“For nearly two weeks, our team has been volunteering to distribute generators to help residents run essential home services as well as assist to get the mud out of their homes.

“My hat goes off to everyone in the area and other parts of the North Island affected by this tragedy.”

“I’m proud of how our team has come together to help out the community, and we’ll continue to work together to overcome the challenges ahead.”

Craig Stewart

The Feeds business specialises in the import, blending and national distribution of animal feed, including to major dairy regions throughout North Island where many farming communities have been affected.

GrainCorp Feeds NZ General Manager Daniel Calcinai was able to reach a colleague whose house had flooded in the Hawke’s Bay region via a helicopter, taking much needed supplies and a generator out to keep the family and their neighbours going.

“The generator has enabled our colleague to heat water, flush toilets, refrigerate food, use the washing machine and even keep a laptop going! It’s helping to run two neighbours’ houses too,” he says.

“Craig and the team from our terminal at Napier have remained very positive throughout the disaster and are helping in the community where they can.”

The GrainCorp Community Foundation is pledging $50,000 New Zealand Dollars to the Federated Farmers of NZ, to support flood-hit farmers recovering from Cyclone Gabrielle.

Daniel says the donation will go a long way to support those communities rebuild from the disaster.

“Cyclone Gabrielle is one of the worst storms to hit our country in living history and for farmers, it has damaged pasture and crops, swept away bales of feed and has sadly resulted in the deaths of livestock.

“It is a tough time for many farmers and this is one of the very important ways that we can provide support.”