Ashburton Courier: July 11, 2024

www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
NEWS
Ashburton Courier, July 11, 2024
13
Social connections key at rural event
TONI.WILLIAMS
@ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Social connections, up to date
learnings, and instore discounts
were being snapped up at
Ruralco last week.
Times may be tough, but the
Ruralco Ashburton instore days
on July 4and 5still drew a
crowd.
It was the place to be for
Ruralco members, merchants
and industry representatives. It
even saw avisit from Prime
Minister Christopher Luxon,
alongside Rangitata MP James
Meager, Federated Farmers
president Wayne Langford and
Environment Canterbury
councillor Ian Mackenzie.
Ruralco chair Sir David
Carter said the prime minister’s
visit was achance to meet amix
of people and to understand
how important the co­op was to
Mid Canterbury.
‘‘It’s the opportunity for us to
introduce him to the members,
and the members have the
discretion to raise with him the
issues they want,’’ Carter said.
Luxon, who had just over a
one hour timeslot at the event,
was keen to connect with
grassroots farmers, merchants
and businesses.
Ruralco chief executive Tony
Aitken said there was no better
opportunity than aRuralco
instore day to do this.
Immigration settings and
NEW FEATURE: Ruralco group chief executive officer Tony Aitken
(left) with chair Sir David Carter by the support hub at this year’s
Ruralco Instore Days.
their effects on businesses, as
well as compliance costs were
key issues in the rural
community, he said.
‘‘I think it’s really good that
the prime minister wants to
listen, to hear from the people
in Mid Canterbury and it’s really
cool that we get to be the
conduit that makes it happen.’’
Carter said it was acredit to
the co­op that in abusy day the
prime minister wanted to come
to visit the instore days.
‘‘It’s aperfect opportunity for
him to meet as many grassroot
members and suppliers as he
can, in arelatively short amount
of time,’’ Carter said, including
agood mix of operations and
farm diversity.
These members and suppliers
were adiverse mix, including
arable, dairy, sheep and beef
MEET AND GREET: Ruralco
board chair Sir David Carter
(left) and group chief executive
officer Tony Aitken guide prime
minister Christopher Luxon
through merchant stalls.
farmers, generational farmers,
farmers from operations of
different size and scope, and
key merchants.
There was asupport hub on
site, the Ruralco hub. It was a
new feature this year and
offered aplace for people to get
up to date information on the
agricultural industry.
Aitken said the instore days,
similar to amini field days in
downtown Ashburton, were a
community event that saw
members make social
connections each year.
‘‘It’s acommunity thing we are
doing right,’’ he said.
He said members will go to
the likes of Methven or Rakaia
to support their local store,
buying supplies.
‘‘Then down they come (to
Ashburton) for the social side of
it,’’ Carter added.
Carter said it was pleasantly
surprising how ‘‘buoyant’’ the
three stores had been on the
instore days. Members had been
keen to support their local store
and catch up with their peers.
‘‘Ashburton is clearly very
busy, Rakaia was busy, Methven
was busy. And we have got to
acknowledge it is atough
farming economy out there, so
we are very pleased with the
response.
‘‘It’s looking very positive.’’
He said it was about loyalty to
the co­op.
‘‘There’s no other co­op that
I’m involved in where members
are as loyal as they are to
Ruralco. We just don’t take that
loyalty for granted, we can’t, but
it’s unique to Ruralco.’’
‘‘Our job is to stay competitive
and stay in the market with
them,’’ he said.
The co­operative first formed
in 1963 and today has members
with account numbers passed
down generations.
This year is the 30th annual
instore days event.
More on the prime minister,
see page 20.
Sharingkai and conversation for Matariki
DELLWYN.MOYLAN
@ashburtoncourier.co.nz
He Waka Tapu staff and clients celebrated
Matariki last weekend at the
organisation’s rooms on Tancred St, with a
smorgasbord of food, activities for
children and achance to connect with
others.
Family harm practitioner Leo Sooialo
said it was an opportunity to come
together. ‘‘We put on the lunch to help our
community and to help people feel
included,’’ he said.
Anita Hanara said sharing time with
others was agreat way to celebrate the
Māori New Year. ‘‘Our time together is
helping us to build each other and talk,’’
she said.
He Waka Tapu uses tikanga Māori to
help people identify what they want out of
life.
TOGETHER: Among those enjoying the He Waka Tapu Matariki lunch is Anita Hanara (second from left). Right ­serving up the
lunch are staff members Gena Tomlinson (left) and Leo Sooialo.
PHOTOS DELLWYN MOYLAN
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•Interior plastering • Roof painting
2692166
Call Richard 3089039 l 027 279 8952
richard@bradfords.co.nz
www.bradfords.co.nz