22 farms near Kaikoura cut off, forced to dump milk

Farms near Kaikoura are still without road access and are being forced to dump milk. Photo / Supplied

Fonterra Cooperative Group says milk collection has been restored in earthquake damaged Culverden, Waiau and Amuri areas in the upper South Island but 22 farms near Kaikoura are still without road access and are being forced to dump milk.

Farm Source chief operating officer Miles Hurrell said that as of last Wednesday "all farms in North Canterbury had milk collected as usual" while the farms near Kaikoura remain cut off.

"While it's incredibly disheartening for our farmers in Kaikoura to have to dispose of milk, those farmers and Fonterra are well insured so we don't have a situation where there will be financial stress from missed collections," Hurrell said.

Fonterra tanker access to the Kaikoura farms will depend on the capacity of the Kaikoura emergency access road once it is opened, he said.

"Unfortunately tanker access is out of our hands, but we are in close contact with all of the agencies working hard in very challenging circumstances to open a route into Kaikoura, and we are keeping our farmers up to date."

Fonterra reported no major damage to any of its New Zealand sites, with national manufacturing operations running as usual since the earthquake.