Thirty-five Horowhenua households have received support through the Mayoral Relief Fund following the December severe weather and prolonged power outages.

The fund, organised by Horowhenua District Council, distributed $18,164 to 35 households, helping residents cover immediate costs such as food spoilage, essential repairs, and other weather-related expenses.

“The year began with some real challenges for parts of our district. Severe winds caused power outages and damage in a number of areas, and for many people that was a difficult way to start the year,” says Mayor Bernie Wanden.

“As a Council, we activated the Mayoral Relief Fund to respond quickly and provide practical support to residents who were under real pressure. This was about getting help to people when it was needed most.”

Mayor Bernie acknowledged the challenges faced by families across the district and thanked residents for the way they supported one another during the recovery period.

“At times like this, checking on neighbours and lending a hand where it’s needed really matters,” he said. “Those small acts of care make a big difference and reflect the strength of our community.”

At the same time, Mayor Wanden reinforced the importance of household preparedness for future events.

“While Council was able to step in on this occasion, emergency funding won’t always be available and we encourage households to be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least three days following a major weather event, including having food, water, medications, and essential supplies on hand.”

“Strong communities recover faster. Council has a role to play, but preparedness at home and looking out for neighbours are just as important.”

Residents can find emergency preparedness information at getready.govt.nz.

The Mayoral Relief Fund closed on Friday 9 January. The fund was intentionally open for a short period following the event to provide immediate financial support.

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