Repost of Marlborough is donating thousands of recycled fence posts to farmers in need in Kaikōura, and planning another truck load for Wairarapa.

SUPPLIED/REPOST

Rural communities are rallying to fundraise and support storm-affected farmers get damaged fences up again.

Earlier this month, South Islanders bore the brunt of a low-pressure weather system that brought heavy rain, flooding and snow in its northbound path from Otago to Waitaki, North Canterbury and Kaikōura.

On Monday, Marlborough-based Repost Fence Posts sent a delivery of thousands of free fence posts to farmers in need around neighbouring Kaikōura.

Co-owner Greg Coppell said storm damage varied, but it was widespread across the large catchment.

He hoped the 3500 fence posts that would create around 24 kilometres of fence line would help farms get up and running again.

"That's landed now and it's already going out the gate there at Kaikōura. So that was pretty exciting to get that bit done."

He said it was about getting livestock secured behind wires, off roads and away from rivers.

"It's a start, but there's a fair bit to go yet," he said.

Greg Coppell is co-owner of Marlborough-based Repost Fence Posts.

Cosmo Kentish-Barnes

The storm arrived in the lower North Island affecting Wairarapa farmers, many of whom were already struggling with wet conditions.

Coppell said it was planning a second unit to go to Wairarapa, but still had some fundraising to go to cover freight costs.

"We've got about another $2500-$3000 to go, and we'll get another unit to Wairarapa to help support those guys there."

In contact with councils, fence posts would go to the farmers most in need, Coppell said.

He added that farmers' storm recoveries could go on for years.

Rural influencer, farm chef and author Philippa Cameron of Otematata rallied her 70,000 or so followers across her What's for Smoko social media platforms to help Repost fundraise for the two deliveries.

Having raised just under $8000 as of Monday, Cameron said storms affected farmers and rural communities, so it was important to help out.

"It will affect the feed going into the end of winter and into spring based on if there are fence lines down," she said.

"Being able to get those fences up quicker means that stock will be in the right places."

Cameron said donations would directly help these affected farmers.

"It's the power of a community, and I suppose that's the great thing about living rurally is that we know the power of a community," she said.

"So to be able to share that with the wider New Zealand, then that's cool too."

Fundraising for the Wairarapa drop remained open.