''They are our neighbours. We feel for them.''
North Otago farmer Grant Ludemann was more than happy to dig a little deeper at yesterday's special fundraising stock sale at the Waiareka saleyards in Oamaru, paying a top price of $180 for a pen of lambs.
The sale raised close to $22,500 for the Stackhouse and Dodd families, both victims of recent sheep killings on their properties, with stock agents reporting ''generous'' prices being paid.
Meanwhile, about $11,400 has been deposited in the Westpac bank account set up by Rural Women NZ North Otago.
When contacted, Ngapara farmer Peter Stackhouse said he was overwhelmed by the support shown.
''Words can hardly describe it ... we're really, really privileged to be in the North Otago area. We didn't expect anything; it's very, very humbling,'' he said.
While Mr Stackhouse had hardly had time to think, he thought they might replace some of their 195 slaughtered sheep.
While the sale was about country people showing their support, he said he had also had calls from urban dwellers who were also very concerned and thinking about them.
The next best thing now would be for someone to be apprehended for the offending, he said.
Tapui farmer John Dodd said it showed ''good human nature against the opposite side of it'' and he thanked the public for their support.
''Once you pick on one farmer, in my opinion, you're picking on the whole lot. Farmers respond with kind hearts,'' Mr Dodd said.
The sale was an initiative of Federated Farmers and the community, and it drew a much larger crowd than usual to the weekly Waiareka stock sale.
Organiser Greg Ruddenklau was ''over the bloody moon'' with the result, after 168 sheep and several cattle beasts were donated.
''It just shows how much people care really, doesn't it?'' Mr Ruddenklau said.
While demonstrating the level of support for the farmers affected, it also showed that people ''don't want these sort of things happening in North Otago, or anywhere''.
There had been calls from people from all over the country who were seriously concerned about what was going on, he said.
PGG Wrightson North Otago livestock manager Mark Yeates said one farmer who dropped off stock for the sale commented it showed there were ''a lot more good people than bad people in the community''.
Peter Greenslade, the local livestock representative for Silver Fern Farms, said there was a directive from the company's management to support the sale.
''It's such a good initiative ... other local farmers have dug deep to donate sheep. The least we could do is dig into our pockets and support the sale,'' he said.
During spirited bidding, auctioneer Rod Naylor quipped: ''I wish it was like this every week''.
Mr Ludemann, who has been attending the Waiareka sale for about 30 years, said it was a great cause.
''It's frightening [the attacks], isn't it? There's someone out there that's a lunatic, I suppose,'' he said.
Mr Naylor said prices overall at the sale were ''generous'', compared to usual market value, which showed the buyers' goodwill.
He described the result as ''tremendous'' saying both the numbers of stock yarded and the prices achieved were higher than what had been expected.
Police said there were no further reported similar incidents over the weekend.
The first incident happened over the weekend of June 21-22 when 195 sheep were killed on the Stackhouse property, and at least a further 20 sheep were killed on the Dodd farm the following weekend.
In both incidents, police believed a firearm was used. Police actively patrolled the Ngapara area over the weekend and would continue to conduct patrols in the area, Detective Warren Duncan said.
A small investigation team, including some Dunedin staff, was working through information received from members of the public and carrying out inquiries.
Anyone with information should contact Oamaru police on (03) 433-1400 or call Det Duncan confidentially on (03) 433-1416.
