"In 1984 the Labour government substantially reduced assistance to the New Zealand agricultural sector as part of their overall economic policy reform...These changes in policies and the associated restructuring ogf state owned enterprises and government departments has impacted on the availability of rural services to farmers and local communities. This discussion paper reports on three surveys conducted in the Wanganui Hill Country of farmers and rural businesses. The results identify and quantify the impact in dollars terms (where possible), at both the individual farmer and the local community level, of the effects of the changes in the rural economy over the period 1985 to 1990, as it pertains to rural services. Further, farmer and local community attitudes to these impacts and changes are reported on"--Taken from Foreword.