Federated Farmers has acknowledged the speedy announcement of government aid for farmers and others caught in recent devastating flooding through the southern North Island.
The package includes use of task force green workers to help with the immediate clean-up of flood damage, rural special needs grants and support trust counselling.
Additional aid will include the appointment of up to six agricultural co-ordinators and technical advice from MAF for farmers.
The government will also pay most of the cost of repairing roads and bridges.
Federated Farmers' President Tom Lambie says it covers most areas of assistance that farmers expect from the government.
But he says farms likely to be without road access for the next fortnight need communications restored urgently.
Lambie says there has been a tremendous response to the federation's own relief service, with offers of hay, milking, grazing and equipment coming in from all over the country.
Federated Farmers has set up an office and freephone system to match offers for those in need.
That number is 0800 335 663.
Isolated family
Farming families cut off by floods and slips, and in many cases still without power, are dreading forecasts of further heavy rain.
Steve Anstis and his family have been isolated on their sheep and beef farm, on State Highway 4 between Wanganui and Raetihi, since Sunday,
They still have no home phone and a fluctuating power supply - after being completely without power for three days.
There is no access north or south on State Highway 4 because of slips.
Anstis says his steep hill property looks like a cyclone hit it.
He predicts it will take the best part of a month to six weeks before he will be able to get access south to Wanganui.
Helicopter rescue
Among the remarkable rescue tales emerging from the disaster is this one from Alistair Polson, who farms in the Mangamahu district inland from Wanganui.
His brother and a shepherd had gone out to check for stock in a jet-boat which hit a wire in the swollen Mangawhero River and flipped over, spilling them into the flood.
Polson arrived at his brother's house by helicopter and discovering he was overdue went looking for him. Polson says the Mangamahu Valleys, like much of the southern North Island, has suffered huge losses. He estimates 20,000 stock have perished.
Kiwifruit and boysenberry crops have been wiped out, along with hundreds of kilometres of fences, tracks and culverts.
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