A funding deadline for silt and debris collection and disposal in Wairoa has been extended beyond 31 December. Photo: LDR
Wairoa mayor Craig Little is thrilled the town has been handed some much-needed good Christmas tidings.
A funding deadline for silt and debris collection and disposal in the town set to expire at the end of the year has been extended.
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) said a remaining $6 million in silt and debris funding that had not been used to date in Wairoa would now be available until 30 June, 2025.
The funding agreement between DIA and Hawke's Bay Regional Council (HBRC) for extreme weather event recovery activities included funds for the removal and disposal of silt and debris had an expiry date of 31 December, 2024.
"This is a much-welcomed announcement for the people of Wairoa who need some good news this side of Christmas. This extension gives us the much-needed time to finish the recovery work from both the cyclone and the June 2024 flooding events," mayor Little said.
"As a small town that's been on the front line of these extreme weather events, we've been stretched thin trying to get everything done before the previous deadline.
"Today's announcement acknowledges the immense challenges we've faced, and we're genuinely grateful to the Ministers for understanding our situation," he said.
Craig Little says Wairoa has been "stretched thin" by weather events. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Hawke's Bay Regional Council chair Hinewai Ormsby also welcomed the news, saying it was crucial for regions like Wairoa which have been battered by multiple severe weather events.
"This extension is significant because it truly recognises the unique and ongoing challenges our community has endured," Ormsby said.
"Wairoa has faced two devastating weather events in just two years, and without a doubt, a less-resilient community might have faltered. Instead, we're seeing Wairoa rise to the challenge, putting in the hard mahi on the recovery front. This decision not only honours the recovery efforts already underway but also shows recognition for the work still to come," she said.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.