26 March 2004

More Flood Assistance Announced

Mayor John Terris is urging sporting and community groups that may have suffered damage in last month's floods to contact Council in case they are eligible for compensation.

The Government announced (24 March) that it is making additional funds of up to $80,000 available to each council to assist in the repair of 'non-council owned assets, such as marae or community sports facilities, that may have been seriously affected by the floods, or supporting community organisations that may have used their own resources in providing assistance during the flood.'

"This will be welcome news to the sports clubs and community organisations that have suffered flood damage to facilities and which were facing an uncertain future," said Mayor Terris.

"I am also delighted to report that Council has received a cheque for $100,000 from the Holmes Show, which will be added to the approximately $70,000 already in the Mayoral Relief Fund.

"On behalf of Council and Hutt City residents I sincerely thank the initiative of the Holmes Show team, and the generosity of New Zealanders in the donations they made.

"With the Government's pledge to match the amount in the Mayoral Relief Fund dollar for dollar and the contribution yet to come from NZ Cricket, we have a significant sum of money to assist flood victims to get back on their feet," said Mayor Terris.

Anyone wanting to apply for assistance from either the Mayoral Flood Relief Fund, or the assistance to sporting and community groups announced by the Government can ring 570 6666 to request an application form or pick one up from the Main Council Building in Laings Rd.

The closing date for applications to the Mayoral Flood Relief Fund is Friday 2 April.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>