Simon Power National Rangitikei MP

17 February 2004

Pitiful Govt assistance fails storm victims

Rangitikei MP Simon Power says the Government's initial grants of $20,000 to each of the Rangitikei and Manawatu mayoral relief funds is pathetic.

Insurance assessors have already estimated the storm caused $100 million damage in what has been described by forecasters as a 1 in 40-year weather event.

"The Government contributed $5 million to assist Niueans after Cyclone Heta, yet it can't even get $50,000 together for the people of the Rangitikei and Manawatu.

"These areas are two of our most profitable, providing valuable jobs, exports and tax dollars, and now in their time of need the Government is letting them down," says Mr Power

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