Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Government package for flooded areas

18 February 2004 Media Statement

Government package for flooded areas


Taskforce Green workers and a 'one-stop shop' Government agency approach to assistance are included in a package to help those caught in this week's flooding.

Civil Defence and Emergency Management Minister George Hawkins said the package recognised immediate help with cleaning up was the greatest initial need for those affected.

Details of the package include:
- Government agencies, including Health, Work and Income, MAF, Housing and Te Puni Kokiri, co-ordinating their activities with Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) groups’ regional recovery activities in problem areas.
- Activation of Task Force Green Scheme to provide cleanup support where needed;
- The appointment by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (MAF) of up to six Agricultural Co-ordinators
- The provision by MAF of technical and consulting assistance in the form of advice to farmers for the rural sector where appropriate
- Activation of the MAF Rural Sector Assistance Special Needs Grants and Rural Support Trust Counseling for farmers and their families where required.
- MAF will be asked to assess the extent of problems in the rural areas and the resources needed to achieve rural recovery. MCDEM will co-ordinate that information with information from the CDEM groups and utilities.

Task Force Green workers has been successfully utilised many times over the last decade to help with the clean up after civil defence emergencies, as well as help restore public assets and external farm fences.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

"Again, Government intends funding assistance to both urban and rural communities through the Task Force Green scheme," Mr Hawkins said.

Mr Hawkins said Council costs in dealing with displaced people are fully reimbursed where a civil defence declaration had been made.


Accordingly, via Transfund government will pay both transit and councils to repair bridges and roads at a rate of up to 100 per cent for state highways, and up to 85 per cent for local roads and bridges.

Central government will reimburse councils for up to 60 per cent of the cost of repairing essential infrastructure, above a threshold based on a districts capital value. Certain response costs, other than caring for displaced people, will be treated as for essential infrastructure, Mr Hawkins said.

Prime Minister Helen Clark and Mr Hawkins visited affected areas in Manawatu and Rangitikei today.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.