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Prime Minister Helen Clark visited snow-laden south Canterbury on Friday to see first hand the damage caused by last Monday's storm.
Hundreds of people have endured 12 days without electricity due to the snow storms that brought down powerlines and disrupted road communications.
Clark flew into a farm in Fairlie, where she met with farmers whose crops have been covered by snow. Crops are still at risk of becoming rotten if the snow does not clear soon.
She also spoke to linesmen in Fairlie and visited a refuge centre set up for farmers in remote south Canterbury.
Clark says financial assistance such as a transport subsidy may be possible for South Island farmers.
Some areas still covered in heavy snow are down to their last four or five weeks' worth of stock feed.
Clark says she is aware that there are many ongoing issues for farmers, and she wants to see the Ministry of Agriculture and Federated Farmers working closely together to find ways to help those affected.
"We need to work very closely with the local people here - who I think have done a fantastic job, the Rural Relief Trust people, Fed Farmers and council. We need now the welfare support that can come in from central government to back that up."
She says the snowstorm was an extremely early wintery blast which caught people by surprise, but she was not unhappy with the level of action taken by the regional government and Civil Defence.
Roads back to normal
All South Island roads are open, but police advise extreme caution.
Chains are required on some routes across the Southern Alps, including Arthur's Pass and Lindis Pass.
Weather hits elderly hard
Canterbury Age Concern says freezing weather in the region is causing extreme hardship for elderly, as some endure their twelfth day without power.
The organisation's chief executive, Andrew Dickerson, says some of those are especially vulnerable.
He says he is particularly concerned for people over 70 who often live alone, on fixed incomes and may have health problems.
Dickerson says some elderly people have to choose between paying the power bill, seeing the doctor or buying food.
Firewood and food parcels are being distributed.
Appeal for Cantabs without power
The Christchurch City Council and the Red Cross have begun an appeal for people in Canterbury.
The Red Cross says the purpose of the Ray of Sunshine appeal is to cheer them up and donations of anything from baking to a card are welcome.
The packs will be delivered to Waimate, Fairlie, Timaru, Geraldine, Ashburton and Methven next week and distributed from there.
Around 500 homes in the South Island are still without electricity.
Most people will now at least be able to have a hot shower as the Timaru District Council has organised free motels for those still without power.
At least 16 families have taken up the offer.
Power companies say the task of getting the lines back up and running has been hampered by ongoing bad weather.
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