Prince Charles and Camilla make secret donation to Westport flood relief
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have given a secret donation to Westport’s flood relief fund.
Buller mayor Jamie Cleine said the royal couple made the donation to Buller’s Mayoral Relief Fund to help residents affected by the flood that inundated the West Coast town in July.
He said at the request of His Royal Highness the amount would not be disclosed.
About 500 homes were damaged by the flood, resulting in provisional insurance costs of about $85 million.
The Mayoral Relief Fund has received more than $500,000 in government funding and donations. It has paid out about $300,000 so far, with the rest earmarked for uninsured people.
Cleine said some residents had lost everything and would be unable to return home for a long time.
“It is very thoughtful of them to contribute to the Mayoral Relief Fund. I have thanked His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall for their generosity on behalf of our community.”
The heir to the throne visited Westport in November 2015 and charmed the crowds during a walk along the main street.
He also visited the now-closed West Coast Brewery to sample beer and whitebait patties, which he described as a perfect combination.
Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙
One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.
So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?
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59.5% Yes, supporting people is important!
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26.2% No, individuals should take responsibility
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14.4% ... It is complicated
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Poll: As a customer, what do you think about automation?
The Press investigates the growing reliance on your unpaid labour.
Automation (or the “unpaid shift”) is often described as efficient ... but it tends to benefit employers more than consumers.
We want to know: What do you think about automation?
Are you for, or against?
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9.7% For. Self-service is less frustrating and convenient.
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43.1% I want to be able to choose.
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47.2% Against. I want to deal with people.
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