The Marlborough District Council has given out $11,000 so far in hardship grants from the Mayoral Earthquake Fund.
Dozens of people stayed at Red Cross welfare centres after the earthquakes. Some people are still missing essentials weeks after the quakes, the Marlborough District Council says. Photo: Corinne Eambler / Red Cross
The fund, set up after the 14 November Kaikōura earthquake, attracted more than $95,000 in contributions.
Thirty-two applications were received for the first round of the fund, the council said.
Recovery Manager Dean Heiford said the fund was boosted by a $50,000 grant from the Rata Foundation, formerly the Canterbury Community Trust.
Allocations from the first round were based on assessment of the levels of hardship suffered.
Some families were really suffering, Mr Heiford said. Priority had been given to applicants needing help with the essentials for daily life, those who were uninsured or whose costs were not covered by insurance, or those who faced particular financial burdens due to the earthquake.
"So we're looking at replacing crockery, food - those essential items people need to survive over the Christmas period, to make it a bit easier for them to actually have a Christmas," Mr Heiford said.
The fund was still open for contributions, and people could also still contribute to the Kaikōura and Hurunui earthquake funds.
The second round of allocations from the Marlborough mayoral fund would take place early in the New Year, Mr Heiford said.
"We're expecting that might be a bit more complicated because people will have a better understanding of what their needs are and will know what is covered and what is not covered by various insurance companies and EQC.
"I think the deliberations by the mayoral earthquake committee then will be a lot more detailed."
Any claims for loss of income, or job loss as a result of the earthquake need to be claimed through the Ministry of Social Development rather than the Mayoral Earthquake Fund, the council said.