3 March 2004 Media Statement

More money for flood victims

The government will match dollar for dollar all funds raised by nationwide flood relief appeals by the end of this month.

Announcing the decision, Acting Prime Minister Michael Cullen said it would commit the government to funding at least $3.2 million on latest estimates.

“This recognises both the considerable individual needs which the recent floods have caused and the generosity of the response of many ordinary New Zealanders to those needs,” he said.

“Where possible, local delivery mechanisms will be used to allocate the money.

“Officials will be reporting further on two possible models for allocating the government contribution: either through mayoral relief funds only but requiring consultation with rural community groups to ensure the most effective recognition of the needs of those communities or also allowing distribution through some form of specific rural based organisation or organisations.

“These matters will be considered further in a fortnight’s time by which stage we should also have a clearer picture of the full cost of the damage although it may not be until later that the likely overall costs to the government can be calculated.

“That is likely to run into many tens of millions of dollars because of the severe damage to the infrastructure,” Dr Cullen said.

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>>