After the disastrous effects of Cyclone Gabrielle it has been great to again see our industry come together with a coordinated response for support.

The combined public appeal by NZTR, Dunstan Feeds and NZTBA for donations to fund feed has raised a significant amount in the opening 24 hours.  This fund is intended to support not just Thoroughbreds but the wider equine community, and we hope that this fund will continue to accumulate.

NZTR have been helping coordinate with MPI Animal Welfare Emergency Management and with Dunstan and other donors regarding the coordination of feed donations to local distribution centres.  Due to the generosity of a number of industry supporters we have horse feed going to Waipukurau Racecourse, Riding for Disabled Arena in Napier and the Hastings Racecourse.

The support for our Hawke's Bay community has not stopped there.

The team at Hawke's Bay Racing have played a huge role in support.  The Hastings Racecourse is providing stables as emergency shelter for horses that have been displaced due to the flooding, ​some horses have already arrived and more expected.  Vet Services have also been made available at the venue with the help of SPCA who have also established an animal shelter.

The facilities at Hastings Racecourse also extends to showers, food, wifi and power for those in need, along with other household supplies, provision of community meals daily and other assistant from mattresses to emergency response teams.

It is great to see the Government is providing an initial $4 million to help farmers, growers, whenua Māori owners and rural communities mobilise and co-ordinate recovery efforts and a Volunteer Registration is being coordinated by Federated Farmers.

While we are all shocked and concerned for the plight of our friends in Hawke's Bay and the rest of the country, it is also heart-warming at the response from everyone within our industry, and to witness how our racecourses are used as invaluable community assets.

For some, the cyclone effects and the aftermath may understandably lead to mental health challenges.  Excellent assistance is available from the Rural Support Trust (http://www.rural-support.org.nz/) or other community support groups. For racing participants, NZTR can also facilitate specialist individual counselling on a basis, to access this please contact myself or Darin Balcombe. 

Our thoughts are with those affected by this disaster, and we also pledge our on-going support.