FMG Donates $100,000 To Flood Relief Funds

FMG Donates $100,000 To Flood Relief Funds

FMG has announced today it will donate $100,000 to the Mayoral Relief Funds established to assist those affected by severe flooding in the Eastern Bay of Plenty over the weekend.

FMG is New Zealand's leading rural insurer and financial services company and earlier this year it donated $200,000 to Mayoral Relief Funds following flooding in the Lower North Island.

Chairman Peter Jensen says FMG has been quick to recognise the significance of the latest flooding, coming at the worst time of the year for farmers in the region.

"We are pleased to be able to contribute $100,000 to disaster recovery funds at the earliest opportunity as a gesture to help those affected and to encourage others to meet the challenge.

"With spring calving and lambing at their peak right now, farmers will be under considerable pressure to minimise stress on their stock and to do what they can to resurrect their season, just beginning.

"We really sympathise with those farmers, as well as those who have lost homes to flood water, and the challenges they are facing."

Mr Jensen says as a mutual company, part of FMG's ethos is to support communities throughout the year and in time of need.

"We saw earlier this year the amazing spirit in how rural communities pull together in time of need and, from what I have seen and heard, the 'Kiwi' spirit is again shining in this latest flooding disaster.

"FMG is acutely aware of the immediate and anticipated longer-term impact on people and their livelihoods from the flood and, for others, the earthquakes which shook the region."

Mr Jensen says the flood waters will leave damaged pasture and fences. Farmers may also need to replace livestock and it will take some time for them to get back on their feet.

"The rural communities and businesses serving them will be hit hard by this disaster."

He says FMG will respond to customer needs sensitively and efficiently in an endeavour to get them back on their feet quickly.

FMG is best known as a general insurer to rural communities, also offering commercial and domestic general insurance, life insurance, finance and financial advisory.

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