The Red Cross has announced further help for Cantabrians struggling to cope with electricity bills for heating earthquake-damaged homes.
The organisation's earthquake commission has decided 6000 households that have already received a winter assistance grant this year will get a second payment of $400.
The money will be paid directly to their power company.
The commission's head, Sir John Hansen, says the second payment is in recognition of the fact many people are still struggling with heating bills.
Sir John says the commission will meet again next month to decide how to allocate the remaining $16 million of the $125 million in donations to its earthquake appeal.
The Winter Assistance Grant closed on 1 October. It was available to all households with earthquake damage or those who had to move to colder, damper, harder to heat accommodation.
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