The following is a list of funds for local authorities, affected property owners and impacted businesses from the North Island extreme weather events. More information on individual Budget 23 initiatives is available on the Beehive website.
Local authorities
Cyclone Recovery Capability Fund
In Budget 24, Cabinet agreed to a package to support local government capability to speed up their recovery actions, providing certainty for people, as well as avoiding cost escalation of infrastructure projects due to delays in getting works underway.
The Cyclone Recovery Unit in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet is the lead agency for this fund. The contestable funding application process closed on 30 June 2024.
Hawke’s Bay Sediment and Silt Recovery Fund
The Department of Internal Affairs is the lead agency for this fund.
This fund is for the removal of sediment and debris caused by Cyclone Gabrielle in the Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti regions. A total of $102 million is dedicated to assisting councils in processing and disposing of debris from residential properties and addressing sediment on council-owned land to make it accessible to the public again. Another $70 million is specifically allocated to commercial entities, including farmers and growers, to support land cleanup and help them return to profitability.
The funding is administered by local authorities and is available to eligible commercial entities in the Hawke's Bay region. Eligible entities can receive up to $40,000 as a grant and up to $210,000 on a cost-share basis, where the entity covers 50% of the costs. The funding cannot be used for indirect costs, unrelated activities, or the purchase of non-consumable or capital assets.
This fund is open.
More information about the Hawke’s Bay Sediment and Silt Recovery Fund.
Solid Waste Management Fund
The National Emergency Management Agency was the lead agency for this fund.
The Cyclone Gabrielle Solid Waste Management Fund had up to $15 million to reduce financial barriers to clearing solid waste from residential properties as soon as possible. The Fund was administered by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
This fund is closed.
Flood Resilience Fund
The Department of Internal Affairs is the lead agency for this fund.
This initiative provides funding for Crown co-investment with local authorities in areas impacted by the recent North Island weather events to support the proactive management of climate-exacerbated flood risk.
Projects identified through the regional recovery planning process will be considered for access to this fund.
Regional and Local Support Fund
The Cyclone Recovery Unit in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet is the lead agency for this fund.
This initiative provides funding to support the Regional and Local Recovery Structures to allow for centrally supported, locally led recovery assistance for severe weather events. These structures will work to assist their relevant regional Ministerial lead to advise on recovery activities, alongside different responsible stakeholders and affected parties.
This fund is closed.
Essential infrastructure recovery programmes – 60/40 CDEM funding mechanism
The National Emergency Management Agency is the lead agency for this fund.
Following an emergency, subject to Cabinet approval, the Government funds 60 percent of eligible costs (above the local authority’s threshold) to rebuild or repair damaged essential infrastructure, river management systems and community assets in accordance with Section 33 of the Guide to the National CDEM Plan.
Essential infrastructure assets include sewerage, water supply, storm water, electrical and gas facilities and other structures such as retaining walls and tunnels upon which essential services depend.
More information is available at the National Emergency Management Agency.
Business
North Island Weather Events Loan Guarantee Scheme
The Treasury, Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit in the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is the lead agency for this fund.
The North Island Weather Events Loan Guarantee Scheme is targeted to provide relief for businesses highly impacted by the NIWE. The scheme supports the provision of scheme loans to viable businesses. It encourages banks, non-bank deposit takers (non-banks) and non-deposit-taking lenders to lend with favourable terms, including reduced interest rates, by the Government taking up to 80% of the loan’s default risk. Borrowers remain liable and must pay back the debt, with interest, in the usual way.
This scheme is open.
More information about the North Island Weather Events Loan Guarantee Scheme.
North Island Weather Events Primary Producer Finance Scheme
The North Island Weather Events Primary Producer Finance Scheme (NIWE Primary Producer Finance Scheme) was open for applications from 31 July 2023 until 1 March 2024. The scheme is now closed for applications.
The NIWE Primary Producer Finance Scheme targets North Island land-based primary producer businesses that were severely affected by the North Island weather events (NIWE) of early 2023, including Cyclone Gabrielle. The Scheme is specifically for such businesses in the North Island affected regions of Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Tairāwhiti, Hawke's Bay, Tararua and Wairarapa. It enables the Government, through Kānoa, to provide concessionary loans and equity finance to help severely impacted businesses get back to a point where they can re-engage with commercial lenders.
NIWE Isolated Rural Communities Recovery Fund
The Ministry for Primary Industries was the lead agency for this fund.
This fund was available for various activities to support rural communities affected by the weather events. This includes supporting the establishment and operations of hub locations, such as marae or other suitable facilities, to serve as central points for community support.
This fund is closed.
More information about the NIWE Isolated Rural Communities Recovery Fund.
NIWE Time-Critical Primary Industries Recovery Fund
The Ministry for Primary Industries is the lead agency for this fund.
The fund is specifically designated for urgent maintenance necessary for the safety of livestock and people, as well as transportation of essential supplies, individuals, and animals. Expert advice is also provided to assist in decision-making and management actions related to time-critical health and safety, animal health and welfare, and ongoing operations' safety.
This fund is closed.
More information about the NIWE Time-Critical Primary Industries Recovery Fund.
Communities
North Island Weather Event Temporary Accommodation Assistance
The Ministry of Social Development is the lead agency for this initiative.
The Temporary Accommodation Assistance payment is distributed by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and is not means or income tested. The payment is available to support displaced homeowners who are experiencing financial hardship due to having to pay for a mortgage as well as incurring rental costs while their homes are being rebuilt or repaired.
The payments will start from 4 September 2023. The initiative is a weekly payment paid directly to homeowners. Rates of payment are based on the location of a person's temporary accommodation and their household type.
The initiative is open.
More information is available at the Temporary Accommodation Service.
Whenua Māori sediment and debris management package
Te Puni Kōkiri, Ministry of Māori Development is the lead agency for this package.
The funding is part of the Government’s ongoing commitment towards helping communities, including owners of whenua Māori, farmers, growers and communities to recover from the cyclone. The funding is intended to support owners of whenua Māori make decisions about the clean-up of their land. Te Puni Kōkiri is also now managing $2 million of the $10.15 million woody debris grant funding announced by the Minister of Forestry, Peeni Henare, as part of Budget 23. This $2 million has been allocated specifically to manage woody debris in catchments on whenua Māori.
This fund is open.
More information about the Whenua Māori sediment and debris management package.
Cyclone Gabrielle Welfare Support Grant
The National Emergency Management Agency is the lead agency for this fund.
The Cyclone Gabrielle Welfare Support Grant is a time-limited government fund. It is intended to reimburse certain emergency costs that have already been incurred by marae, iwi, and recognised community organisations (including rural groups, Pacific organisations, and ethnic service providers) to care for people who were affected, displaced, or isolated during the state of national emergency.
This Grant recognises that these organisations have used their own resources to fund their immediate response to Cyclone Gabrielle. It provides a faster alternative to the normal process of seeking reimbursement through local authorities for emergency response costs.
The National Emergency Management Agency (“NEMA”) administers the Grant on behalf of the government. Applicants will need to meet certain eligibility criteria and conditions to receive funding. Grants are usually capped at $40,000 (excl. GST), but organisations may be able to apply for a subsequent Grant after discussing their circumstances with NEMA.
This fund is closed.
More information about the Cyclone Gabrielle Welfare Support Grant.