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Over the past few weeks, Aotearoa has faced some of the most detrimental climate conditions in our recent history.
Late January saw our upper North Island battered by unprecedented flooding. Now, merely weeks later, Cyclone Gabrielle has once again wreaked havoc throughout the north, immensely impacting the lives, homes, and businesses of thousands of New Zealanders.
For only the third time in our history, the Government has declared a National State of Emergency. This enables us to support and prioritise affected areas and provide additional resources as needed.
While we were lucky enough to remain relatively unscathed by the cyclone, we did experience high volumes of wind, which resulted in more than 10,000 households without power, hundreds of uprooted trees, and the closure of many main roads.
Despite this, we have seen whānau, friends and neighbours rally together to keep one another safe, warm, and fed.
The resilience and community spirit has been nothing short of remarkable.
While the severity of the damage is still under assessment, the Government is committed to providing support to those impacted by these climate disasters.
Our $11.5 million Community Support Package has enabled NGO’s and community groups to provide immediate relief for affected individuals.
Already, this has provided more than 25,000 people with food, clothing, shelter, bedding, and medication.
As the extent of the damage continues to actualise, we expect to feel the impact nationwide.
Extreme loss of livestock and orchards will significantly affect our agricultural industry and thus, our economy.
That is why we are also providing an initial $4 million to help farmers, growers, whenua Maōri owners and rural communities mobilise and co-ordinate recovery efforts.
Alongside this, we have provided a further $250 million to help Waka Kotahi and local government assess and fix damage to our roading networks, as well as $50 million to provide immediate support for businesses and our primary sector.
Fortunately, the Government’s books are in great shape to meet the oncoming challenges facing our country.
“Our debt levels are among the lowest in the OECD … ensuring we are well positioned to handle the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle and future economic shocks,” said Grant Robertson, Minister of Finance.
I know how important the agriculture industry is here in Taranaki-King Country and that our local farmers will be strongly empathising with their Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti counterparts who have lost their livelihoods at the hands of these events.
My thoughts are with the families, friends and loved ones of those who have lost their lives; to those who have lost their homes and their businesses; and to those who experienced first-hand the sheer terror of these climate disasters.
These are extraordinarily hard times and I know these events have taken a huge toll on many New Zealanders, but we will get through this together and our Government will continue to provide much needed support.
