$200,000 in support grants for oyster farmers ‘not enough’

Watercare has provided $200,000 to help oyster farmers affected by raw sewage leaks causing the closure of Mahurangi Harbour, though many of them are saying it’s too little, too late. The money is being paid via industry organisation Aquaculture NZ as grants to support business recovery initiatives, such as trans-locating oysters to alternative sites, with an initial sum of around $10,000 per farmer paid last week. However, farmers were left uncertain over whether the $200,000 was a one-off, or if more support might follow. Watercare said only that its agreement was with Aquaculture NZ to pay ...