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Small Business Driver: Soter Rural Compliance
Soter Rural Compliance was a one-woman business operating out of Waipukurau, Hawke’s Bay, when selected for the Toyota Small Business Driver initiative. Managing Director Emma Buchanan spends her days working with farmers to help them understand the rural regulations in their region and balance sustainability efforts with running a profitable business. As a result of the help from Toyota and MediaWorks, Emma has been able to hire two local farmers to help part time to grow the business.
Soter Rural Compliance was created to provide a high quality, low-cost farm environmental planning service for farmers. Emma is regional council approved, qualified, and has delivered hundreds of workshops for industry organisations – she knows rural compliance rules like the back of her hand and is passionate about helping famers succeed.
At the same time, Emma recognises farmers need to understand how trees on-farm are key to improving New Zealand’s emission profile and a natural environment generating carbon income for the farm. An important element of her work is helping farmers improve their environmental and greenhouse gas performance whilst maintaining a profitable business.
The first lockdown in March 2020 was a crazy time for Emma as she balanced working from home, caring for her children, and home-schooling, all while helping farmers deal with the major stresses caused by the drought and deadlines for resource consents to farm.
Helping farmers in need is a huge part of Emma’s work, and she does a lot of pro-bono work in the farming community to offer support to struggling Kiwis. Whether it’s taking hay to a farm that is severely drought affected, babysitting horses, or finding holiday homes for clients’ cows and other animals, Emma is constantly out and about in the Hawke’s Bay farming community.
As a recipient of Toyota’s Small Business Driver initiative, Soter Rural Compliance has received a Toyota Highlander and Mediaworks advertising package to ensure Emma can continue to fulfil the needs of her rural community. As farming is an industry that is increasingly copping flack, Emma is passionate about helping farmers navigate the changing landscape.
For all your rural compliance needs or advice in the Hawke’s Bay, contact Emma at Soter Rural Compliance for a hassle-free, professional experience. Emma can be contacted through her website: www.soter.co.nz