Support Currently Available For Businesses And Whānau Effected By Cyclone Gabrielle
We would like to extend our thoughts to those who have been and will continue to be affected by the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle.
For those seeking assistance, we have compiled a list of available resources and organizations to support whānau and business owners in the Tairāwhiti/East Coast region.
Civil Defence Support
Civil Defence payments
Anyone who has been displaced or can’t work due to Cyclone Gabrielle can apply for a Civil Defence payment. To find out more about eligibility visit the website for more information.
Civil Defence payments are available if you're affected by the cyclone in:
Tairāwhiti/East Coast region
Hawke's Bay region
Manawatu region
Wairarapa region
Horowhenua region
Northland region
Auckland region
Waikato district council
Thames/Coromandel district council
Hauraki district council
Matamata/Piako district council.
You don't need to be currently receiving a benefit, and in most cases it doesn't matter what your income is or what assets you have.
A Civil Defence Payment can help with:
emergency food, clothing and bedding if yours has been damaged or destroyed by the cyclone
costs if you've had to leave your home
loss of income because you can't work due to the cyclone
a payment if you have evacuees staying with you in places such as a private home, marae or community centres.
Applying for Civil Defence payments:
You can now apply for some Civil Defence payments online if you have a client number with MSD, you're based in the East Coast or Hawke's Bay, and need help paying for food, bedding, clothing, or temporary accommodation. Find out how on our webpage:
Support teams currently experiencing a huge number of calls and you may need to wait a while before you are able to talk to someone but please be patient because they do want to help you.
Support For BusinesseS
If a business has been impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle, support may be available from the bank and/or the Government. Here are some of the packages available to businesses across New Zealand:
Westpac
Westpac’s small business customers can apply for a $2,500 cash grant from the Small Business Flood Relief Fund. Find more infomation on Westpac website and apply now.
ASB
ASB business and personal customers can apply for a one-off $2,000 cash payment for support. Click here to find out more and apply at the ASB website.
Other Banks
Other major banks – including ANZ, BNZ, and Kiwibank – are offering businesses temporary overdrafts, zero-fee loan restructuring, interest only periods on loans, payment deferrals and other support. For more information or to find out more for someone who may be effected, get in touch with the bank directly.
Inland Revenue waives late payment penalties
Inland Revenue has announced it will waive late payment penalties for businesses unable to file or pay tax on time due to the recent extreme weather. More information here.
Original information source from: https://www.laurenson.co.nz/
Te Pu Harakeke – Emergency Response Fund
A fund established to provide emergency response support for communities impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Any entity can apply for under $10K
Requests for over $10K must be a legal entity or consider using an umbrella organisation.
Cyclone Gabrielle Māori Communities Response Fund
Te Puni Kokiri has $9 million to provide rapid assistance to marae and hapori Māori affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and set conditions for longer term resilience. The Fund is intended to be flexible and agile in addressing the varying needs of different marae and communities. The fund ceases at 30 June 2023, with a final report due 29 September 2023.
Primary focus will be on marae and hapori which have been directly affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. These communities are mostly located in Ikaroa-Rawhiti, Waikato-Waiariki (Coromandel), Te Tai Tokerau and Tamaki Makaurau.
Click here for the application form
Insurance Support
If your home, car, or contents have been damaged by the severe weather or you know someone who has been effected, the following information is important:
Take photos before you remove or repair anything and report it to your insurance company as soon as possible.
You only need to contact your insurance company and they’ll let you know what you need to do next, how to claim and – if applicable – how EQ Cover from Toka Tū Ake EQC works.
If you need to make your home safe, sanitary, secure, and weather tight, record the work done, take before and after photos, and keep copies of the bills and any expenses incurred.
If you don't have house insurance but do have contents insurance, speak to your insurer about what is covered.
Make sure you take lots of photos and keep good records before you throw anything out, where possible.
Free and independent advice is available through Residential Advisory Service (RAS) within MBIE provide advocacy services and advice to homeowners who are navigating insurance claims to remediate damage suffered due to an event. You can contact info@advisory.org.nz or ring 0800 777 299, 03 379 7027 for more information.
EQCover for this event
EQCover provides the following:
Landslip damage, EQCover available for damage to house and land
if the house is damaged by the landslide, cover available up to the building cap (up to $150k or $300k, depending on policy renewal date)
cover for repair or reinstatement of some residential land, up to the value of the insured land.
Flood and storm damage, EQCover only applies to insured land, with private insurers generally providing cover for homes.
removal of flood debris such as silt and fallen trees
Land claims can take some time to resolve and communication between impacted people and their insurer is critical. Information that may be useful for homeowners are in links below:
General guidance
Householders' Guide to EQCover– overview of how EQCover works, what is and isn't covered, and how EQCover claims are settled.
Householders' Guide to Residential Land– overview of how EQCover works for insured residential land, what is and isn't covered
Specific guidance (these can be printed, as needed)
Land Cover – Storms and Floodsfactsheet – how EQCover works for storm or flood damage to insured residential land
EQCover – Land claimsfactsheet – steps involved in an EQCover land claim, people involved and how settlements are calculated
For the original article and more information, visit: https://www.civildefence.govt.nz/
Mental / Emotional Support
As well as financial and immediate safety support, it's also important to provide of mental and emotional support during the extremely tough circumstances.
The following information is related to general wellbeing from www.civildefence.govt.nz
It's important to trying to get enough sleep during these challenging times
Tips for sleep (this is a national DHB endorsed health site) : https://www.healthnavigator.org.nz/healthy-living/sleep/sleep-tips/
The importance of explaining what is going on to children – talking to them and listening to them
Click here for more information: https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/coping-natural-disaster
Mental Well-being options
Anxiety is very common during an emergency event such as a flooding and evacuations. This is a normal response to a very stressful situation. Talking to people and helping others can be both therapeutic and useful.
If you need further support for yourself or for others:
call your general practice, after-hours GP practice or Healthline on 0800 611 116
free-call or text 1737 to talk to a trained counsellor
in an emergency, call 111
Support For Pacific Peoples
The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is the Crown’s principal advisor on policies and interventions aimed at improving outcomes for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa.
The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is actively reaching out to Pacific leaders, communities, and service providers to gather information.
If you require support please email contact@mpp.govt.nz or visit www.mpp.govt.nz