Cyclone Hate has caused severe damage to the Tairāwhiti region. Images show damage and a dropout on Arakihi Road in Tolaga Bay. Photo: Supplied/Uawa Civil Defence
The government has announced $100,000 of funding support for Tairāwhiti farmers and growers impacted by Cyclone Hale.
Rural Communities Minister Damien O'Connor said some farmers would face many months of work to get back on track due to the flood damage on their properties.
There was woody debris on farms, hill slippage, road closures and damage to culverts, farm tracks and other infrastructure, O'Connor said.
"The effects of Cyclone Hale follow hard on the heels of other recent storm clean ups in the region, compounding stresses for those involved.
"It's important to help those farmers and growers now facing a big clean-up effort after the storm dumped over 200mm of rain over 24 hours in some parts of the district."
The Ministry for Primary Industries would work with adverse event networks and sector groups to monitor the storm's impact and determine how the funding would be allocated.
"We will continue to assess whether further support is needed, such as Enhanced Taskforce Green for clean up, as the full extent of the storm damage becomes more apparent over the coming weeks."
In addition to that funding, Inland Revenue has activated its Adverse Event Income Equalisation Scheme for the Gisborne District, he said.
This would enable farming and forestry businesses to even out income fluctuations by spreading their gross income from year to year.
On Friday afternoon, the government also announced it would contribute $150,000 to the Mayoral Relief Fund to aid affected communities in Tairāwhiti.
"It's too early to know the full cost of the damage, but we have agreed to the council's request of an initial $150,000 contribution to allow the community to get immediate support to those who need it," Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty said.
'That'll really help'
A Tairāwhiti farming leader said the support for flood-hit farmers and growers in the district was much-needed.
Federated Farmers Gisborne president Toby Williams said farmers along the coast were trying to put on a brave face, but this was the fourth time in 18 months they had been hit by severe flooding.
"People are [feeling] really, really down. We're trying to lift every body back up, that's why this funding support today, hopefully can get out by next week, you know, we can get people on farm helping clean things up, that'll really help boost a bit of morale."
Some farmers were expected to come under financial strain due to the cost of undertaking flood repairs at a time when incomes were being dented by lower commodity prices, he said.
"Rural Support Trusts will be there helping out people as they need it."
Williams said Associate Agriculture Minister Meka Whaitiri would be visiting some badly damaged farms near Tolaga Bay on Friday.
He expected she would report back to officials with her observations on the challenges facing farmers and what other support the government could provide.