Support payments confirmed for drought-affected farmers

Cabinet has confirmed that special support payments are available to rural families in drought-stricken areas, Social Development and Employment Minister Ruth Dyson and Acting Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor said today.

Rural Assistance payments are to be available to eligible farmers in the regions of Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Manawatu, Wanganui, Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland whose income is affected by drought.

Cabinet also extended the availability of Rural Assistance payments to farmers affected by last year's drought on the East Coast of the North Island in the local authority territorial areas.