Residents in the tiny East Otago farming village of Macraes were yesterday blase about the need for Monday's Civil Defence food drop, saying that despite being cut off for the best part of five days, they had things under control.
Waitaki Civil Defence flew into the village by helicopter to make sure residents, cut off by 60cm to 1m of snow,
still had food, but by yesterday roads to the high-country township were once again passable.
Local farmer Jim Thomson said yesterday was the first day Macraes had road access since last Thursday, but added that all local farms were well supplied with food.
Two good days of sun meant a thaw was now well under way.
However, until Civil Defence staff flew in by helicopter on Monday, some in the community had felt ignored by the Waitaki District Council.
''The major concern of this community is why didn't the Waitaki council graders turn up until Monday?'' Mr Thomson said.
Rebecca Tisdall, from Macraes, said her children had gone back to school on Monday, and added that ''everyone'' in Macraes had a tractor, so most people had still been able to get out and at least tend to stock.
''We have been very lucky, we haven't lost power throughout and that's made a huge difference. There's been no freezing water pipes or anything like that.''
The community spirit and co-operation shown in Macraes had been repeated across Otago, and Otago Rural Support Trust co-ordinator David Mellish said a recent call to arms to aid snow-stricken farmers in central and north Otago had received a ''tremendous response''.
Whether it was the hundreds of people who had offered to snow rake, agricultural sector businesses, neighbours or local communities teaming up with the Rural Women network, ''I don't think you could get a better example of the spirit of rural communities,'' he said.
More volunteers would be gratefully received, he added.
