Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
The government is more than doubling the size of its fund for cyclone-affected farmers and growers, with another $26 million added to the $25m fund set up last month along with a two-week extension for applications.
Finance and Cyclone Recovery Minister Grant Robertson and Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor announced the move in a statement after this week's Cabinet meeting.
Robertson said more than $17.4m had been paid out to 2846 applicants under the fund in the past 12 days.
It provides up to $10,000 for pastoral and arable farmers, and up to $2000 a hectare - capped at $40,000 - to growers.
Applications remain open until 20 March, with an extension to 3 April for those in hard-to-reach areas. Those who have already received a clean-up grant from the Ministry for Primary Industries are not eligible.
Robertson said the government needed to be nimble, flexible and responsive to immediate needs, "as with the response to Covid".
"We knew there would be more need during the response phase as people took time to take stock and work through their clean-up from Cyclone Gabrielle," he said.
"Ministers are working on the next steps of support as the regions move to recover and rebuild from these events."
Speaking to media, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the funding would allow people who did not currently have an income to carry out time-critical jobs.
"It's things like repairing fences and culverts, removing silt and debris and ensuring that stock is being appropriately looked after.
He said there were some early and small signs of recovery in parts of the agricultural sector.
"With more roads reopening, Fonterra reports that milk collections are starting to get back to normal in the Hawke's Bay outside of 30 or so farms that have dried off, and Fonterra reports that they're now able to access all farms in Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty."
Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Cost-of-living loan payments to continue for students affected by cyclone
Hipkins also announced tertiary students will still be able to receive the cost of living component of student loans while delivery of their courses is interrupted by the cyclone.
"The ministry of Social Development will provide the option of continuing these payments up until the 1st of May, for students who remain enrolled in study but are unable to learn due to the effects of the cyclone.
"Without this adjustment, we know that students could face unnecessary hardship," he said.
Hawke's Bay, Tai Rāwhiti remain in emergency state
The announcement followed confirmation from Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty Wairarapa would be joining other regions in the "transition" phase, while Te Tai Rāwhiti and Hawke's Bay would remain as the only regions under a national state of emergency.
McAnulty had on Friday moved Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Tararua into the transition period: a shift from emergency response towards recovery, which allows for remedial works such as reconnecting cut-off properties and temporary infrastructure repairs.
However, Hawke's Bay and Tai Rāwhiti still had thousands of people unable to return to their homes due to flood damage, he said.
"We need to keep coordinating this response at a national level in these areas to ensure we are properly supporting the Tai Rāwhiti and Hawke's Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups, and coordinating the personnel and equipment needed to transport essential supplies into the affected areas," he said.
