Flood and Cyclone Relief and Support

by
News
February 20, 2023

Information current as at 09/03/23. We will continue to post and share further or updated information as it comes to hand. 

Kiwiwsaver withdrawal information from TCA:

The weather-related natural disaster that impacted the north island North and other regions was/is expected to have a significant in its impact on impacted KiwiSaver members, with some impacted members potentially requiring immediate financial support. We recognise the severity of this situation and need for timely support to be available for vulnerable members. The TCA members met and agreed the following to help provide immediate hardship support (focused on food, water, clothing, accommodation) and to streamline the process for impacted members:

  • Natural Disaster / Flood related applications will be prioritised, especially those involving vulnerable members.
  • For urgent costs and emergency repairs up to $5,000.00 the burden of evidence will be reduced (using a common-sense approach if information is not easily available/accessible). Note that there is some flexibility on the 5K depending on circumstances.
  • Above $5,000, we would expect the standard process to be used (though we can look to make a preliminary payment up to $5,000).
  • A reduced pay-out period may be considered (e.g a pay-out while insurance claims are pending)

In any case, it is vital that it be made to clear to members / mentors that they should in the first instance contact their KiwiSaver provider, as providers are fully aware of what is in place and can assist them to complete their applications.

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From MBIE:

If your home was damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle or the Auckland Floods, and you need support to find temporary accommodation, we can help.

The Temporary Accommodation Service (TAS) can assist displaced households with temporary accommodation while your damaged home is being repaired or rebuilt.

TAS is taking registrations from households in these affected regions and districts:
– Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)
– Te Moana a Toi (Bay of Plenty)
– Te Matau-a-Māui (Hawke’s Bay)
– Te Tai Tokerau (Northland)
– Tairāwhiti (Gisborne)
– Tararua District
– Waikato

Once registered, a staff member will call you within a few working days to assess your specific needs and outline the next steps. This will mean we can quickly offer accommodation once it becomes available.

Our priority is to find your household warm, dry and safe accommodation. We’re also committed to working with you to find accommodation that caters to your household’s needs and keeps you within your community, as much as possible. In the short term, it may be difficult to meet all your needs, such as being close to work, or housing you and your pets, but different options may become available over time that better suit your household.

We encourage anyone needing support to register with TAS now. If you feel that you may have a future need, it is also a good idea to register with TAS now.

You should only register once per household. You can register by:
– Visiting www.tas.mbie.govt.nz and complete the easy-to-use online application form.
– Calling 0508 754 163 toll free and one of our call centre team can assist you.

Generally, there is a cost for all temporary accommodation options. If you are concerned about the cost, TAS can provide guidance on how to access support services such as insurance advice and financial assistance.

There is also other support available:

For households who need help with their insurance claims, contact NZ Claims Resolution Service on 0508 624 327.For those who don’t have insurance, contact MSD on 0800 559 009.

Tenants and landlords of rental properties can find information on their rights and obligations after a natural disaster at: www.tenancy.govt.nz

IRD: Tax relief for emergency events (ird.govt.nz)

 Kāinga Ora – Support for Cyclone Gabrielle : Homes and Communities (kaingaora.govt.nz)

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From MSD:

Community Support Package funding

Many community groups and providers are still busy in response activity in relation to the floods and cyclone. We know many of you are providing this support without an easily accessible funding source and that you may not have time to connect with or realise what funding MSD has available.

If you are running short of resource, we encourage you to look at applying for the funds in the Community Support Package most relevant to you.

Applying for the Community and Provider Support Funds

The Community Support Fund

For groups and organisations not contracted to government agencies, examples of community groups who can apply are:

  • Multicultural councils
  • Ethnic community organisations
  • Faith based, religious and church groups
  • Community Hubs
  • Not for profit organisations and social enterprises
  • Grassroots initiatives with significant relationships with community members

Apply for the Community Support Fund

The Provider Support Fund

For providers who already have government contracts in the social sector, including those funded by:

  • Ministry of Social Development
  • Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People
  • Ministry for Pacific Peoples
  • Te Puni Kokiri
  • Ministry for Ethnic Communities
  • Department of Internal Affairs

Apply for the Provider Support Fund

Please note: If your funding requirements are more than the stated funding cap – please outline the full amount you need so this can be taken into consideration when assessing your application.

If you have any questions around exactly what each of the funds can be used for, please get in touch with us at community_support@msd.govt.nz

Useful links to other available government support:

The Community Support Package sits alongside a suite of supports that have been put in place to support those affected by the recent North Island floods and Cyclone Gabrielle. These include:

Before committing resources to helping out your community, please contact your local CDEM Group to discuss how you can best provide the welfare support your community needs.

A core focus of an effective emergency response is ensuring robust and coordinated welfare service arrangements are in place to meet the needs of affected individuals, families/whānau, and communities.

Each CDEM Group is responsible for the coordination of and arrangements for the local delivery of welfare services.

Community-based organisations may also establish and offer welfare support to the community.

Arrangements between CDEM Groups and community-based organisations must be agreed in advance, so both parties are clear about what the funding is for and what costs are reimbursable.

As we’ve done during COVID-19, we will ensure MSD funded providers are treated fairly if delivery of contracted services is impacted by the mahi you’re doing to support people, whānau and communities affected by recent flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle.

If you have to reduce or alter your services temporarily, we will look to maintain current funding levels for the period of the contract and revise reporting requirements.

We recognise it may be necessary for some services to be delivered in different ways. We can support you to be flexible in responding to the different needs of your communities. Please talk to your Relationship Manager or Regional Contract Manager about other support MSD may be able to offer.

If you’re not funded by MSD, please talk to your funding agency about how your contract commitments will apply.

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Tenancy rights after an emergency:

Landlords are responsible for maintaining the property in a reasonable condition. This includes paying for any damages to the property caused by a natural disaster. Tenants are not responsible for any damage to the property or clean up following a natural disaster.

https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/maintenance-and-inspections/repairs-and-damages/what-to-do-after-a-natural-disaster/

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From Consumer NZ re: broadband connections:

https://www.consumer.org.nz/articles/your-rights-if-your-broadband-connection-is-down

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Hawke’s Bay Disaster Relief Fund

Please read the fact sheet around eligibility before completing this application.  HBDRF Fact Sheet 

Hawke’s Bay Disaster Relief Fund – Hastings District Council (smartygrants.com.au)

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Ministry of Social Development: Community Support Package for people impacted by North Island floods and Cyclone Gabrielle 

The increase in demand for support after the devastation of the North Island floods and Cyclone Gabrielle is placing an inevitable strain on services and community-led initiatives.  

Last Monday 13 February, the Government announced an $11.5 million Community Support Package designed to relieve some of this pressure so that community groups and contracted providers can continue their response and recovery efforts for people, whānau and communities. 

Eligible services have until 30 June 2023 to apply. 

 

Community support fund ($2 million): 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.

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.

Apply to the Community Support Fund

 

Community providers fund ($4 million): for providers who already have government contracts in the social sector (including those funded by Ministry of Social Development, Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People, Ministry for Pacific Peoples, Te Puni Kokiri, Ministry for Ethnic Communities and the Department of Internal Affairs).

Apply to the Community Providers Fund

 

Food fund ($1 million): to support existing community food providers to refill their stocks and respond to current demand. 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): this funding provides additional discretionary funding to support Community Connectors to widen the scope of the support they provide to include communities affected by the recent floods/Cyclone Gabrielle.

 

Support for disabled people ($0.5 million): for disabled people, tāngata whaikaha Māori and/or their households to access support. Disabled people do not need to be receiving Disability Support Service funding from Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People or from another Government agency to be apply for this support. The funding will be distributed through existing disability providers who people and households can contact for support.

 

If you have questions about any of the initiatives outlined above, please email: Community_Information@msd.govt.nz

 

Work and Income 

Civil Defence Payments are available to those affected by the cyclone in these regions: 

  • Tairāwhiti
  • East Coast region
  • Hawke’s Bay region
  • Manawatu region
  • Wairarapa region
  • Horowhenua region
  • Northland region
  • Auckland region
  • Waikato District Council
  • Thames/Coromandel District Council
  • Hauraki District Council
  • Matamata/Piako District Council

See this financial support factsheet or the links below for more information:

WINZ financial support for cyclone Gabrielle 

Hardship Assistance payments through Work and Income 

Cyclone Gabrielle – What support is available and where can you get help » National Emergency Management Agency (civildefence.govt.nz)  

 

Other Government Support 

The Government has just announced two support packages totalling $300 million to help cyclone-hit businesses and rebuild roads, along with the new role of Cyclone Recovery Minister and establishment of a special taskforce. A $50 million fund will go to help businesses and the primary sector, with more details to come. Another $250m will go to assessing and fixing roads. The Government recognises the weather events are having an impact on people and businesses meeting their tax obligations, so there will be a range of tax relief measures as well. Further details on this to come.

 

CCCFA (Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act) Affordability Assessment Exemption 

The government recently announced exemption from affordability assessments for customers affected by the recent damaging weather events. 

Banks can apply the exemption to overdrafts and home loan top ups of no more than $10,000. The exemption ends on 31 March 2023 and is only currently available to those negatively impacted by the floods and cyclone in the upper North Island in January and February.  

The exemption is limited, applying only to some loans to existing customers, and is subject to conditions. Some banks have also been offering additional customer support including cash payments, reduced loan repayments, waived fees, access to term deposits, and donations to flood relief funds. 

Anyone affected by the floods who needs assistance or exemption from affordability assessment should contact their bank.

The Thames-Coromandel District Council Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund

Thames-Coromandel District Council residents, ratepayers or small business owners, and not-for-profit organisations who have suffered financial hardship because of damages caused by the Cyclone Gabrielle weather event can apply for The Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund.

Applications can be submitted here: Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund | TCDC

The closing date for applying to the fund is 10 March 2023.

Other resources:  

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