Support maybe available through one of your own regional support groups.
Information on the $4m mobilisation fund and $11.5 m Community support package has been released as per below:
$4m Mobilisation fund Initial recovery mobilisation fund to help farmers and growers hit by Cyclone Gabrielle | Beehive.govt.nz
“The Government is providing $4 million to help farmers, growers, whenua Māori owners and rural communities mobilise and co-ordinate recovery efforts.
This is initial funding to help with immediate and urgent needs.
MPI is working closely with sector groups, including DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Horticulture New Zealand, Federated Farmers and Rural Support Trusts, to identify areas of greatest need.
We envisage the money may be used to:
help get generators to isolated rural areas without electricity;
help re-establish vital lines of communication;
support the immediate response;
to conduct aerial assessments (this imagery was critical in recovery planning after the Canterbury floods in 2021);
mobilise and co-ordinate initial clean-up in rural areas.
Importantly, we will be working with the national response to ensure we’re not replicating work already being done.
We’re working with sector and regional groups to identify areas of greatest need. At this point, farmers are not able to directly apply for this funding.
Civil Defence payments are available if you have been affected by the cyclone. Call 0800 400 100 or visit Cyclone Gabrielle - Work and Income.
Further support will be considered as full assessments of damage are carried out.
If you are aware of areas of immediate need, please contact us at Funding@mpi.govt.nz”
Please see below details on how the $11.5m package will be allocated.
$11.5 community support package
“Community Support Package for people impacted by North Island floods and Cyclone Gabrielle
On Monday 13 February, the Government announced $11.5 million Community Support Package to help those affected by the recent North Island floods, including support for regions preparing to respond to Cyclone Gabrielle.
Community groups and contracted social sector providers of food and other supports, including services for disabled people, have mobilised quickly to support people, families and communities affected by the recent North Island floods and Cyclone Gabrielle. The increase in demand for this support is putting a strain on services and community-led initiatives. This Community Support Package aims to relieve some of this pressure so community groups and contracted providers can continue to deliver their response and recovery efforts for people, whānau and communities. Funding through this Community Support Package is time-limited and only available until 30 June 2023.
The Community Support Package for people impacted by North Island Floods and Cyclone Gabrielle, includes:
Community support fund ($2 million)
This funding is available for community groups supporting whānau and communities in Auckland and other regions impacted by recent weather events, who are not contracted by a government agency. The funding will allow community groups to maintain their response and recovery efforts so they can continue to support whānau wellbeing. Examples of community groups who can apply are:
Local marae, whānau, hapū, iwi
Multicultural councils
Ethnic community organisations
Faith based, religious and church groups
Community Hubs
Not-for-profit organisations and social enterprise.
Community groups can apply to the Community Support Fund via the MSD website from 16 February 2023.
Community providers fund ($4 million)
This funding is available for providers supporting communities affected by the recent North Island floods and Cyclone Gabrielle. Providers are considered those who already have government contracts in the social sector, including those funded by MSD, Te Puni Kōkiri, Ministry for Pacific People and Whaikaha.
This funding will allow eligible providers to continue to deliver their response and recovery efforts, respond to increased demand on their services, and support the wellbeing of their staff and volunteers. This funding is not intended to replace or cover insurance related matters.
Providers can apply to the Community Providers Fund via the MSD website from 16 February 2023.
Food fund ($1 million)
This funding will support existing community food providers to refill their stocks and respond to current demand in communities affected by recent the recent North Island floods and Cyclone Gabrielle. This funding will be distributed through existing systems, including the New Zealand Food Network which supports community food providers by facilitating bulk purchasing of essential food items.
Support through Community Connectors ($4 million).
Community Connectors were established in June 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and played a key role in the Care in the Community welfare response for people self-isolating. Each Community Connector has access to discretionary funding to support their work on a case-by-case basis.
Community Connectors are employed by non-government organisations and are a trusted service for people and whānau. As such, Community Connectors are an important interface between communities and the many types of support options available through government agencies or other service providers. MSD is not increasing the number of Community Connectors as part of this funding.
This funding provides additional discretionary funding to support Community Connectors to widen the scope of the support they provide to include communities affected by recent North Island floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.
Support for disabled people ($0.5 million)
This funding will support disabled people or their households to access support for immediate and unexpected needs due the recent North Island floods and Cyclone Gabrielle. The funding will be distributed through existing disability providers who identify people and households can contact for support.
Get in touch
If you have questions about initiatives outlined above in relation to the Community Support Package for people impacted by North Island Floods and Cyclone Gabrielle, please email: Community_Information@msd.govt.nz
This inbox is monitored from 8am to 8pm to support the quick rollout of the Community Support Package.
Other Government Support
This Community Support Package sits alongside a suite of supports the Government has put in place to support those affected the recent North Island floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.
These include:
support to provide public transport assistance for disabled people
Rural Assistance payments and the Enhanced Taskforce Green programme.”
