$500,000 fund to boost Northland flood recovery efforts

Ripu Bhatia Reporter from Community News

The government has allocated $500,000 to support flood relief activities in Northland.

The move comes after a once-in-500-years storm struck the region on July 17 and 18, causing flooding and millions of dollars of damage to homes and buildings.

Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin said organisations providing services and projects supporting flood recovery efforts will be able to request for grants from the fund from today.

“The Lottery Grants Board recognised the considerable impact that the flooding has had on the communities of Northland and so funding will be available to support impacted community facilities, marae and community organisations that are providing welfare support in the region,” she said.

Department of Internal Affairs, which administers Lottery funding on the Board’s behalf, will be working with the region’s local councils, iwi, hapū and other key stakeholders to assess how the funding can be used and how it will be distributed.

The assessment of community need is at an early stage, and grant money is not available to individuals who have suffered personal loss or property damage.

The Board has previously provided funding to support community responses to natural disasters, including the Tasman fires, Edgecumbe flooding and the Christchurch and the Hurunui/Kāikoura/Marlborough earthquakes.

Damage caused by recent floods in Northland that have been called a once in 500-year event are expected to cost insurance companies millions of dollars.

Further information, including how to apply for funding relating to the Northland flood, can be found at www.communitymatters.govt.nz...