Government Invests $4M in 18 Rural Wellbeing Initiatives Across New Zealand

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