Rural trust for independent advice

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 268, 20 December 1988, Page 7

Rural trust for independent advice

Alice Hood, a dairy farmer from Levin, is the representative for this area from The New Zealand Rural Trust which is an independent body aiming to help rural people.

The objectives of the new trust are the "creation, implementation and operation of a nationwide service to facilitate the rehabilitation and restructuring of rural persons and their families who are confronting change

and difficulties in their lives." It aims to enable a co-ordinated approach to debt management and social and counselling services, drawing together local resources. Through its indepen-

dence the trust hopes to be ffee from bureaucratic controls and be impartial, informal and compassionate. Funds for the trust have come from a number of sources including the government, Landcorp, the Rural Bank, Federated Farmers and private companies such as Wrightsons. Alice Pope says the trust does not have to

answer to those providing the funds. One year is the expected life of the trust. Alice Hood's aims are for the year are: • To facilitate debt restructuring and rehabilitation of farmers and their families. • To create a wider range of options for farmers with high dept levels. •To develop forums for creditor meetings

and co-operation with financiers. •To identify and coordinate networks of resources available through local support groups and government agencies. •To disseminate options, community and support services information. Farmers who feel they need the assistance of an independent organisation are urged to contact the trust. See Guidelines for contact numbers.