Floodwater covers the road at Simpsons Beach, Whitianga on Monday. Photo: RNZ / Andrew McRae
The government has announced $11.5 in funding for community providers and NGOs helping people during Cyclone Gabrielle and the recent floods.
The support package, available until the end of June, will go towards restocking food banks, and helping local community groups and government-contracted community providers to support staff and meet demand for help.
Community organisations, groups and iwi have mobilised quickly to support people and whānau through unprecedented flooding but demand is exceeding funding available, Social Development and Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni said in a statement.
"Over 25,000 people have been supported with food, clothing, shelter, bedding and medication. People have lost their homes and vehicles, families are facing additional challenges getting their children back to school and many families will be facing anxiety and distress from the significant disruption of the floods and impending cyclone.
"This support package will provide immediate relief for individuals and families, bespoke support for disabled people like transport assistance, as well as support for the voluntary sector who continue to be at the heart of their communities and our response."
Up to $4m of the funding will go to expand Community Connectors, set up in 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which act as an interface for individuals and families and help households to access community and government support.
Local community groups which are not current MSD providers will receive up to $2m to continue work with communities in Auckland and other regions impacted by recent flooding, while up to $1m will be available for food banks.
Community providers were allocated $4m to maintain their operations, meet demand and and support staff and volunteers.
The funds are time limited until 30 June 2023 and are limited to supporting communities and providers impacted by recent flooding in Auckland and other impacted regions.
The fund will provide:
- $4 million for providers to ensure they can meet increased demand and support wellbeing of their staff and volunteers due to flooding and the cyclone.
- $1 million to replenish stocks at food banks currently experiencing high demand
- $2 million of grants for community groups to support flood response
- $4 million expansion of the scope of Community Connectors to support Auckland and impacted regions' flood response efforts
- $500,000 ring fenced funding to respond to the needs of disabled people
Last week the government announced a $5m support package for Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland businesses and has put in place other flood relief measures including civil defence payments for people affected by flooding in Auckland and other regions.