Last week’s Rural Industry Leaders Dinner, Debate and Auction raised $420,000 for the Rural Support Trust, with a life-size horse sculpture still unsold and likely to push the total past $500,000.
The Rural Industry Leaders event is in its second year, with founding member Mike Green saying the event started with a planning conversation between a small group and has grown quickly.
“I think the most humbling thing is the support we’re getting; the industry is buying into it,” he says.
The event moves to the larger arena venue at Claudelands in 2027, with new partners already committed.
“I’ve already been approached by 10 more potential partners.
“The thing will keep growing, which means it’ll bring more money to the bottom to our rural communities and allow Rural Support Trust to do the great work they’re doing in the communities.”
The unsold piece is a life-size sculpture of a jockey on a horse made entirely from horseshoes. The committee turned down a $50,000 offer at the live auction and plans to list it through a further sale.
“You can guarantee it won’t go lame, it won’t die on them… it might be the cheapest horse they’ll buy.”
The trust is running 40 talks across New Zealand with Willie Apiata over an 18-month period, covering preparedness and mental health support.
“A lot of it’s around counselling, linking in with people… a lot of it’s more around the people that are receiving as opposed to the people that are giving, because 90% of the people in Rural Support Trust are volunteers.”
$100,000 is directed to a programme with Farmlands and Ignite that grew from conversations started at last year’s event, with other corporates now in discussion about adding to the total.
“That money basically equates to about 1,500 sessions, right through to psychiatrists, financial, all sorts of things.”
CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch/listen or download the CountryWide CONNECT mobile app, available on Apple iOS and Android.
