The major weather events of this year have had a devastating effect on many throughout the country, including those with QEII covenants. QEII is supporting covenantors in impacted regions by extending the Stephenson Fund, and we are fundraising to do this.

We have $50,000 to distribute and we want to raise another $50,000 to match it.

So far, we have received an incredible $27,205 in donations. We’re over halfway there!

QEII Chief Executive Dan Coup says, “we know that the impact QEII can have might not be huge, but we want to do whatever we can to support covenantors in affected areas.”

There are a wide variety of issues that covenantors are facing – everything from re-digging tracks, stock management, weed and pest management, replanting, and simply cleaning up and assessing the damage to their covenants.

“I went to help our rep Troy Duncan, whose house was devastated by the flooding from Cyclone Gabriel. There’s a lot of rebuilding and repairs to do! The clean-up will take years,” says Dan.

We’re welcoming anyone who can to make a donation of $50, $100 or $500. Together we will ensure that it goes directly to supporting covenants in hardship.

QEII will be fundraising from May through July in order to increase the funds we have raised. We are using the Stephenson Fund to distribute this funding as it is well-known to QEII’s community. The Stephenson Fund model has a category for hardship that is well-defined and includes natural disaster events.

Information about how to apply to The Stephenson Fund for hardship will be sent to all landowners in July 2023.

If you want to support this project, please make a donation online to support cyclone relief or contact our Fundraising Manager Bryna O’Brien, bobrien@qeii.org.nz or 027 295 5369.