Federated Farmers says the North Canterbury farming community is coping with the crisis, offering accommodation to the urban homeless through their help line, and also offering generators to farmers whose power has been cut off.

Feds North Canterbury Provincial President Neil Stott says the rural electricity network is now working for 98% of farmers and says people remain upbeat.

“Farmers know if they’re in a disaster, they know the repercussions if there’s no assistance," said Mr. Stott.

"If one of their neighbours says hey I can’t milk my cows, they will offer to help relieve the problem. If anyone needs help, someone in the community will help – but the worst thing is, more often than not, they don’t ask for it, which is the problem.”