Recovery supports

Our aroha to all regions impacted by the recent severe weather events. We want to help you find the supports available to help you and your business.

There are a range of supports you may be entitled to, some are available to all affected regions and some are regional specific.

Support for you

Civil Defence payments

Civil Defence Payments are available to support those who live in:

  • East Coast - Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay
  • The Karekare, Piha, Muriwai and Te Henga areas of Auckland 
  • The Port Waikato area of Waikato 

Civil Defence Payments can help cover the costs of:

  • Food
  • Bedding
  • Clothing
  • Accommodation
  • Loss of income

Please check the work and income website for details or call on 0800 400 100

Find out more (external link)

Civil Defence information

National Emergency Management Agency has a factsheet providing information about the various support available to those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.

This factsheet includes a downloadable format as well as an online document containing information from how to clean up to accessing community support and healthcare.

Find out more (external link)

Health and wellbeing support

Health and wellbeing support is available to help you with work, training or study.

You can get help to:

  • improve your health and wellbeing
  • increase your skills, confidence and independence
  • get ready for work and find a secure job that suits you
  • maintain your wellbeing outside of work.

All these services are free. Find out which of these services is right for you.

For more information (external link)

Temporary accommodation service

The Temporary Accommodation Service assists households affected by a natural disaster to find safe, secure and accessible temporary accommodation while their home is repaired or rebuilt.

If you were living in a property when it was damaged by natural disaster and need help to find somewhere to live while your home is repaired or rebuilt, their coordinators can connect you to services and resources to help get you back on your feet.

Find out more and apply (external link)

Get free career advice

Gain confidence, make a plan and take your next steps into work or training with free, personalised career advice from career experts. 

Meet with a careers practitioner to:

  • Make a personalised plan that outlines your next steps into work or training.
  • Understand your transferable skills and how you can use them in a new job.
  • Get help with your CV and cover letters.
Find out more (external link)

Support for business

Business recovery grants

If you own a business in parts of the North Island and have been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle or January flooding, you can apply for support to help you recover.

You can apply for a grant of up to $40,000.

The grants are to help you:

  • keep operating and position you for a successful recovery,
  • maintain cashflow.

Applications are open, please scroll down to your region to find the link to apply.

Find out more (external link)

Farmer and grower recovery support

Farmers, growers, and whenua Māori owners significantly affected by Cyclone Gabrielle are able to get support to kick-start recovery efforts.

The grants are to help farmers and growers get back on their feet as quickly as possible.

They include:

  • up to $10,000 for pastoral and arable farmers to help with initial recovery, such as repairs to water infrastructure for livestock, and fencing,
  • up to $2,000 per hectare (up to a maximum of $40,000) to remove silt from trees and vines, support clean-up, and minimise future losses.

Applications for the clean-up grants are open until 5pm on 20 March 2023, but those in hard-to-reach areas have until 3 April 2023. Farmers and growers who have already received MPI clean-up grant are not eligible to apply again.

Find out more and apply (external link)

Extreme weather information for businesses

The extreme weather events in parts of the North Island have affected many businesses.

Business.govt.nz have information and advice about:

  • looking after your employees
  • operating safely
  • insurance claims
  • finance and banking
  • buildings and landlord responsibilities.
Check the website (external link)

Tax relief for adverse events

Inland Revenue understands people may be unable to file or pay their tax on time because of the recent severe weather events in the north of the North Island.

During events like these they can offer additional support and have several ways to help people through this.

No need to contact them right now, just when you reasonably can.

You can contact Inland Revenue:

  • Call them on their dedicated phoneline 0800 473 566
  • Send them a message in myIR with the keyword flood in the subject line
  • Come in to one of their front of house offices.

For more information (external link)

First Steps - Mental wellbeing

Be healthy, resilient and equipped to navigate challenges and uncertainty.

An online hub to support your journey to wellbeing as a business owner, manager, or employee.

Business owners, managers and staff experience particular pressures that can begin to affect their ability to thrive and support others. First Steps is a space to find resources, video content, news and articles; as well as connecting you with confidential support from approved professional wellbeing providers, to help you make sense of challenging situations, reduce overwhelm and make meaningful change toward a fulfilling and balanced life.

Find out more (external link)

Employer helpline

The Employers and Manufacturers Association can offer advice and guidance to affected businesses.

Talk to a real person and get pointed in the right direction!

Call 0800 500 362 or email info@businesshelpline.co.nz

Employment during and after disasters

If a natural disaster or other serious event happens, the health, safety and security of people should be the main concern of all employers and staff. 

This comes before thinking about the interests of the business or organisation. Employers and employees should remember to keep in regular contact and deal with each other in good faith. Employment New Zealand answers questions like:

  • What alternative arrangements for work can be made?
  • What if an employee is unable to work?
  • What about the workplace?
  • Health and safety
Find out more (external link)

Support for iwi

Māori Community Response Fund

Iwi, hapū and marae trusts and incorporations, plus other Māori entities and providers in affected areas are eligible for this funding available through Te Puni Kōkiri.

Funding is available to support:

  • Capacity support such as relief staffing, clean-up expenses, generators and communication equipment
  • Recovery planning and co-ordination costs
  • Marae infrastructure and support costs such as securing temporary storage for taonga and food.

A factsheet (external site) is available to help you understand what's funded.

Contact your local Te Puni Kōkiri office for advice and support to apply.

Find out more and apply (external link)

Iwi Response Funding

This funding is intended to directly support iwi and will provide more longer-term funding to allow them to effectively engage and support the wider cyclone recovery and response.

This funding will allow iwi in affected areas to fund programmes of work to support the recovery and is intended to provide funding support for iwi to effectively engage with the government throughout the ongoing cyclone recovery phase.

  • Iwi play an important role in emergency responses and this is a recognition of that. In the recovery there will be a need for iwi to be actively involved and this funding will support them to do that.
  • The government has obligations under Te Tiriti that need to be fulfilled, and this funding helps to support the government to do that.
  • Ensuring iwi can effectively engage in the cyclone recovery will be beneficial to the wider community.
Find out more and apply (external link)

Northland

Northland Business Recovery Grants

If you own a business in Northland and have been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle or January flooding, you can apply for support to help you recover.

You can apply for a grant of up to $40,000.

The grants are to help you:

  • keep operating and position you for a successful recovery,
  • maintain cashflow.

Applications are open.

Find out more and apply (external link)

Enhanced Taskforce Green

If there's been an emergency event that's caused significant damage, eg earthquake or flood, the Government may approve an Enhanced Taskforce Green work programme to help with clean-up and recovery. 

Farmers, growers and communities can register for help with clean-up by calling 0800 787 254 (local Rural Support Trust).


Local job seekers available to help with the clean-up effort can register their interest by emailing Partnerships_and_Programmes@workandincome.govt.nz or by calling 0800 559 009.

Find out more (external link)

Mayoral Relief Fund - Far North

The Far North District Council has established a Mayoral Relief Fund to support the needs of private property owners impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle.

To apply for reimbursement of expenses, the costs must have been incurred as a consequence of the Cyclone and relate to properties within the Far North District Council boundaries.

Find out more and apply (external link)

Employment, education and training opportunities in Northland

Connected is here to help you with access to Employment, Education and Training.

Connected offers:

  • a website
  • Employment Liaison Advisor in Whangārei
  • a freephone 0800 264 737
Find out more (external link)

Auckland

Back to work grants

Designed to help small business get back on their feet sooner, stronger following the Auckland floods of Friday 27 January.

The Back to Work grants are not a substitute for insurance or compensation for all commercial losses a business has suffered from the recent flooding but offer up to $5,000 for businesses that are suffering in the aftermath of the floods. 

Auckland businesses are still recovering from the impact of Covid-19 and the recent flooding has just been another blow in what’s been a few very tough years. 

This is a difficult time, and the Back to Work grants will provide some needed relief in the aftermath of the floods.

The grants are now waitlisted due to demand.

Find out more and apply for the waitlist (external link)

Employment, education and training opportunities in Auckland

Connected is there to help you with access to Employment, Education and Training.

Connected offers:

  • a website
  • Employment Liaison Advisors in Connected Centres around Auckland
  • a freephone 0800 264 737
Check it out (external link)

Waikato

Enhanced Taskforce Green

If there's been an emergency event that's caused significant damage, eg earthquake or flood, the Government may approve an Enhanced Taskforce Green work programme to help with clean-up and recovery. 

Farmers, growers and communities can register for help with clean-up by calling 0800 787 254 (local Rural Support Trust).


Local job seekers available to help with the clean-up effort can register their interest by emailing Partnerships_and_Programmes@workandincome.govt.nz or by calling 0800 559 009.

Find out more (external link)

Thames Coromandel Business Recovery Grants

If you own a business in Thames Coromandel and have been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle, you can apply for support to help you recover.

You can apply for a grant of up to $40,000.

The grants are to help you:

  • keep operating and position you for a successful recovery,
  • maintain cashflow.

Applications are open.

Find out more and apply (external link)

Employment, education and training opportunities in Waikato

Connected is there to help you with access to Employment, Education and Training.

Connected offers:

  • a website
  • Employment Liaison Advisors in Connected Centres in Hamilton
  • a freephone 0800 264 737
Find out more (external link)

Bay of Plenty

Eastern Bay of Plenty Business Recovery Grants

If you own a business in the eastern Bay of Plenty and have been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle, you can apply for support to help you recover.

You can apply for a grant of up to $40,000.

The grants are to help you:

  • keep operating and position you for a successful recovery,
  • maintain cashflow.

Applications are open.

Find out more and apply (external link)

Employment, education and training opportunities in Bay of Plenty

Connected is there to help you with access to Employment, Education and Training.

Connected offers:

  • a website
  • Employment Liaison Advisors in Connected Centres around Bay of Plenty
  • a freephone 0800 264 737
Bay of Plenty (external link)

Tairāwhiti

Tairāwhiti Business recovery grants

If you own a business in Tairāwhiti and have been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle, you can apply for support to help you recover.

You can apply for a grant of up to $40,000.

The grants are to help you:

  • keep operating and position you for a successful recovery,
  • maintain cashflow.

Applications are now open.

Find out more and apply (external link)

Enhanced Taskforce Green

If there's been an emergency event that's caused significant damage, eg earthquake or flood, the Government may approve an Enhanced Taskforce Green work programme to help with clean-up and recovery. 

Farmers, growers and communities can register for help with clean-up by calling 0800 834 434 (Tairāwhiti Wairoa Rural Support – East Coast Rural Support Trust).


Local job seekers available to help with the clean-up effort can register their interest by emailing Partnerships_and_Programmes@workandincome.govt.nz or by calling 0800 559 009.

Find out more (external link)

Mayoral Relief Fund - Tairāwhiti

The Tairāwhiti Mayoral Relief Fund is open for applications for assistance if you were affected by Cyclone Gabrielle or Cyclone Hale weather events.

As the financial amount available is limited, priority for support will be given to:

  • Provision of essentials for daily life, transport needs and household contents.
  • Rebuild/recovery costs of building damaged by water or storm damage.
  • Essential items not covered by insurance or other funds.
Find out more and apply (external link)

Employment, education and training opportunities in Tairāwhiti

Connected is there to help you with access to Employment, Education and Training.

Connected offers:

  • a website
  • Employment Liaison Advisors in our Gisborne Connected Centre
  • a freephone 0800 264 737
Find out more (external link)

Hawke's Bay

Hawke's Bay - Business recovery grants

If you own a business in Hawke's Bay and have been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle, you can apply for support to help you recover.

You can apply for a grant of up to $40,000.

The grants are to help you:

  • keep operating and position you for a successful recovery,
  • maintain cashflow.

Applications are now open.

Find out more and apply (external link)

Hawke's Bay Disaster relief fund

Designed to help Hawke’s Bay communities, individuals, families, community organisations and marae get immediate access to funds to assist with recovery.

Provides one-off payments to help alleviate hardship experienced due to the flooding, prolonged power outages and landslips. And for the rural community, applications can be extended to provide some assistance for emergency fencing requirements for livestock and disposal of dead stock.

For more information (external link)

Mayoral Relief Fund - Central Hawke's Bay

The Mayoral Relief Fund has been established to provide financial support to the residents and community groups of the Central Hawke’s Bay District who have been affected by the flooding event caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

The Central Hawke's Bay Mayoral Relief Fund is open for applications for assistance. Priority will be given to those households directly impacted by the floods for:

  • Provision of essentials for daily life, transport needs, and household contents
  • Rebuild/recovery costs of building damaged by the cyclone
  • Essential items not covered by insurance or other funds

To ensure a rapid response to need, applications of less than $500 will be assessed for eligibility by the welfare team with a recommendation going to the Advisory Group.

Applications over $500 will be assessed by the Advisory Group for approval.

Find out more and apply (external link)

Employment, education and training opportunities in Hawke's Bay

Connected is there to help you with access to Employment, Education and Training.

Connected offers:

  • a website
  • Employment Liaison Advisor in Napier
  • a freephone 0800 264 737
Find out more (external link)

Manawatū

Tararua - Business recovery grants

If you own a business in Tararua and have been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle or January flooding, you can apply for support to help you recover.

You can apply for a grant of up to $40,000.

The grants are to help you:

  • keep operating and position you for a successful recovery,
  • maintain cashflow.

Applications are open.

Find out more (external link)

Employment, education and training opportunities in Manawatū

Connected is there to help you with access to Employment, Education and Training.

Connected offers:

  • a website
  • Employment Liaison Advisors in Connected Centres around Manawatū-Whanganui
  • a freephone 0800 264 737
Find out more (external link)

Wairarapa

Enhanced Taskforce Green

If there's been an emergency event that's caused significant damage, eg earthquake or flood, the Government may approve an Enhanced Taskforce Green work programme to help with clean-up and recovery. 

Farmers, growers and communities can register for help with clean-up by calling 0800 787 254 (local Rural Support Trust).


Local job seekers available to help with the clean-up effort can register their interest by emailing Partnerships_and_Programmes@workandincome.govt.nz or by calling 0800 559 009.

Find out more (external link)

Employment, education and training opportunities

Connected is there to help you with access to Employment, Education and Training.

Connected offers:

  • a website
  • Employment Liaison Advisors in Connected Centres around the greater Wellington Region
  • a freephone 0800 264 737
Find out more (external link)

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