19 February 2004

For immediate use

Bank of New Zealand donates $25,000 to Manawatu District relief fund

Bank of New Zealand has donated $25,000 to the Feilding and Districts Relief Trust Account, which it established last night in conjunction with the Manawatu District Council.

Bank of New Zealand's general manager for agribusiness, Ian Walsh, says Bank of New Zealand has about a third of the farming market in the Manawatu-Wanganui region and it is only appropriate that the bank shows its support for farmers and their families devastated by the flood.

“This donation recognises that many farmers and their families in the towns that have been hit by the flooding have immediate needs such as dry, warm clothes to wear, food to eat and in some circumstances, a roof over their head,” says Mr Walsh.

“It’s times like this when people look to their bank for support. It’s early days as far as assessing the damage, but there’s no doubt the farming community has been hit hard. The floods are going to impact not only on our farming customers but also on New Zealand’s economic well-being.

“I’m pleased Bank of New Zealand is able to show its support for the Manawatu-Wanganui region and our farming industry.”

Mr Walsh says he recognises there will be some long-term impact for farmers, and he will be visiting the Manawatu-Wanganui region in the next few days.

“Our local managers in the region have told me of significant loss of crop, stock, machinery and buildings on farms. I need to see the impact of the devastation first-hand, and I will be visiting the region in the next few days.”

Mr Walsh says the donation will be made to the Feilding and District Relief Trust Account later today and that the public can make donations at any of the bank’s branches throughout the country.

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The funds raised will be placed in a trust account and distributed by a committee set up by the Manawatu District Council.

The account details are:
- Feilding and Districts Relief Trust Account
- Account number: 0628-0016075-00

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© Scoop Media

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