The government has outlined what half is like cyclone business support package will be issued, but local leaders say the breakdown of spending was not shared with them ahead of a public announcement.
Cyclone Recovery Minister Grant Robertson announced the package during a visit to Tairāwhiti, along with local MP and Regional Development Minister Kiritapu Allan. The money would go to companies to cover “immediate costs” and boost business advisory services.
The ministers also took the opportunity on Sunday afternoon to meet council, iwi and business leaders from the region. However, the details of the $25 million announcement were not shared with those leaders in advance.
Instead, attendees told reporters it was more like a listening session where the government could identify where and what the region’s needs are.
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According to Allan, who has been appointed lead minister for Cyclone Gabrielle response for Tairāwhiti, a theme had emerged about where the needs lay.
“You hear a consistent theme in this region. Roads and water are really the two highest priorities.”
The Gisborne district remained under “extreme” water restrictions.
Under the aid scheme, initial grants of up to $40,000 would be made by local organizations in the affected areas (a full list of the organizations is at the bottom of this story).
“Our priority is to get this emergency first aid as quickly as possible. Those who are in communities on the ground know best how to do it. The government has made agreements with local delivery partners to make this happen,” said Grant Robertson.
Money will also be given to the Employers’ and Manufacturers’ Association to expand its advice helpline.
The $25 million is half of what the government says is an initial $50 million bailout package announced last Monday.
RICKY WILSON/STUFF
Grant Robertson has announced more aid for cyclone-affected areas.
“Each local agency will have its own processes, but the government has provided the funding to meet companies’ immediate cash flow needs.
“This includes those impacted by barriers to customer access, the ability to purchase supplies, supply chain issues, the inability to operate normally due to physical damage to equipment or premises, or delays in insurance assessment and repair .”
“The initial allocation of this fund will be capped at $40,000 per company while we assess overall demand for the fund. Further allocations to companies that have access to this initial funding are possible.
Robertson said he was aware that there were large companies that needed more support than the initial amount could support.
“We will work one-on-one with these companies to understand their needs and how we can support them,” said Robertson.
Daniel Williams stood outside the Lawson Fields theater waiting for Treasury Secretary Grant Robertson and his regional development counterpart, Kiri Allan, to lay out a support package for the region’s businesses.
Williams, a land manager for Ngāti Porou, said the forestry industry was facing major challenges.
“The industry is going to need a lot of financial help.”
With essential arterial roads in the Tairāwhiti region rendered useless by Cyclone GabrielleWilliams said his main concern was to ensure that the roads used by the transport logs to East Port could be reopened.
“The roads. They need to open as soon as possible to get people back to work.”
Williams said he was pleased with the Government inquiry into slashleftover and waste blocks, caused by his industry.
When asked what he would like to see for the region he was born and raised in, Williams said:
“Be open to all options. Things that make our communities more resilient… There needs to be a lot of consultation.”
The government has gone to great lengths to ensure that its response appears to be driven by the local population, while providing the money they need.
Labor is lurking in some regions because of Three Waters and seen as a centralizing government.
“Through this package, our local delivery partners will use their grassroots knowledge and robust networks to tell us what they need, ensuring that funding is distributed in the best possible way to meet the needs of their communities,” said Kiritapu Alan.
The government has also launched the First Steps initiative for mental wellbeing – originally designed to help little people mental health management companies – available for use by businesses in affected regions. The cost of this is covered by the recent increase in funding following the Auckland floods. The government says it is closely monitoring how the program works.
Organizations that distribute business support for floods.
- Northland Inc
- Auckland Business Chamber
- Toi Agency for Economic Development
- The District Council of Thames Coromandel
- Eastern confidence
- Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce
- District Council of Tararua