The Resilience and Response of Farm Households in the Aftermath of the 2006 Canterbury Snow Storm
Executive summary
This report documents the social impact on farm households and their communities of the Canterbury snow storms of June 2006. Particular attention is paid to issues of resilience and response to this event. The findings highlight issues raised in detailed interviews with 31 farmers and seven officials in the Canterbury region, including farms in the Ashburton, Timaru, Waimate and Mackenzie districts. The interviews/questionnaires were completed over two periods: late January – early February and mid-April 2007. The findings demonstrated that the ‘hollowing-out’ of rural New Zealand and the disintegration of many traditional community structures have increased the vulnerability of the population. At the same time, increasing farm size, increased fragmentation of farm blocks, a decrease in the number of full-time residential farm workers and an increasing reliance on electronic communications has resulted in a new technological dependency. This results in a decreased capacity to respond to adverse events and an increased sense of isolation and vulnerability when telecommunication links fail. The report emphasises that increasing resilience requires recognition that the modern farm remains both home and business and that any support provided must be cognisant of this fact. Equally, stress is placed on the need to support community vitality (or rebuilding) as the snow of 2006 revealed that in any adverse event self-reliance and mutual support are primary components of resilience.
The snow storm of 2006 has prompted many households to take better precautions to minimise the impact of future adverse events and there is some acceptance that production systems (or land use) may have to change. However, there is as yet little evidence that this transformation has occurred. Equally, there is no evidence that farmers who had taken appropriate preventative measures have been disillusioned by the snow storm or its aftermath, although there is some scepticism as to the support many less proactive farmers received.
Contact for Enquiries
North Island
Phil Journeaux
Manager
North Island Regions
Sector Performance Policy
MAF Policy
Private Bag 3123
Hamilton
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 7 957 8314
Fax: +64 7 957 8315
South Island
John Greer
Regional Team Leader
Natural Resources Group
MAF Policy
PO Box 20 280
Christchurch
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 3 943 1703
Fax: +64 3 943 1757
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