Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
The government is allocating almost $17 million of Budget 2024 to support councils and speed up recovery efforts from Cyclone Gabrielle.
The $16.8m is part of the Cyclone Recovery Capability fund announced in this year's budget and will be given to 12 councils for 50 separate projects to help their communities.
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell said councils need extra support to get a move on with progress in their areas.
"This includes additional geotechnical expertise to speed up decision-making on landslide-affected properties, as well as resources to accelerate roading recovery, bridge repairs and flood protection projects in affected regions," Mitchell said.
He said the government is committed to helping councils and communities during their rebuild and recovery process after the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle which destroyed thousands of homes.
"We have been clear we want the recovery projects to be completed faster, and we want communities to have certainty about their future."
"Strengthening resilience is also the focus for a number of these projects to reduce the impact from future weather events and protect communities from future flooding," Mitchell said.
He acknowledged councils are working hard to get the right aid and implement the necessary measures to help with recovery efforts in their territory.
Slips, house damage in Karekare in West Auckland caused by Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo: RNZ / Finn Blackwell
Funding allocations
Auckland Council: $4.89m to speed up categorisation and voluntary buy-out offers, and additional technical specialists to speed up property and community-level flood resilience projects.
Hawke's Bay Regional Council: $2.18m for additional expertise to speed up Wairoa, Pakowhai, and Pōrangahau flood protection, as well as additional expertise for community engagement and flood modelling for a range of projects.
Hastings District Council: $1.47m to speed up Hastings roading delivery programme.
Central Hawke's Bay District Council: $700,000 to speed up roading recovery and provide flood modelling.
Wairoa District Council: $200,000 to speed up the Te Reinga bridge replacement project.
Gisborne District Council: $4.75m for six initiatives to accelerate roading network recovery, added expertise to accelerate voluntary buyout offers and flood risk mitigation projects.
Western Bay of Plenty District Council: $510,000 for specialist geotechnical support for roading projects, additional expertise to support Ohineangaanga Stream remediation and speeding up the Kaituna River stopbank project.
Kaipara District Council: $590,000 to accelerate flood resilience projects.
Far North District Council: $220,000 to support land categorisation.
Thames Coromandel District Council: $300,000 to provide specialist contractors to remediate slips on State Highway 25.
Tararua District Council: $220,000 for GIS expertise and project management support for local roading.
Hawke's Bay councils react
Three of the Hawke's Bay councils have all reacted positively to the funding allocation, saying it all counted towards recovery efforts in what was still a mammoth of a job.
Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said there were years worth of work ahead for the town.
"We know in Hawke's Bay our local economy, and in particular our primary sector, relies on a reliable and resilient road network so any support from government that will help us to rebuild faster is positive news for the region," Hazlehurst said.
"In Hastings we expect this funding to add further resources to deliver on our roading recovery programme, which ultimately will help us get our primary sector and overall economy back on its feet sooner."
Central Hawke's Bay mayor Alex Walker said the announcement showed the government was aware work needed to be sped up and create resilience for the affected areas.
"This extra bit of funding means we can put practical support in place for our key recovery priorities - including roads and stormwater modelling in Pōrangahau.
"It helps us lay a strong foundation so that we can fast track our district to one that is more resilient, and produces generational change that our grandkids can thrive in."
Walker said $129m of Central Hawke's Bay's roading recovery was currently unfunded so every bit of support helped to get their projects over the finish line.
Meanwhile, Wairoa mayor Craig Little was also thrilled to see its bid to fast-track its Te Reinga bridge replacement project approved.
"Our local community is doing it tough - we still have a long road ahead of us and will require a lot more funding support over the next few years, but today's announcement is at least another step in the right direction.
"Flood protection is obviously a key focus for Wairoa as well as the wider region so its positive to see that as part of this announcement funding has also been allocated to speed up Regional Council's delivery of these important projects."
Regional Recovery Agency independent chairperson Blair O'Keeffe praised the government for its ongoing support towards Hawke's Bay's recovery, agreeing work would take years.
"Key to our success will be maintaining a credible partnership with central government by remaining cognisant of the fact they too have fiscal constraints to work within and ensuring as a region we continue to match our recovery priorities with the government's programmes and future funding pathways," O'Keeffe said.
