Projects funded to help the recovery of rural communities affected by severe weather in 2023

Veterinary Council of New Zealand: $2.6 million

Provide veterinary support to affected farms to assist the economic recovery and ensure animal welfare and biosecurity.

National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited (NIWA): $1.9 million

Research and examine the effects of Cyclone Gabrielle on marine habitats and fisheries in Tairāwhiti and Hawke's Bay.

Rural Support Trusts: $1.9 million

Extra funding to support recovery efforts from the North Island weather events and support the delivery of free and confidential assistance to farmers and growers facing challenges.

Rapid Relief Team (RRT) NZ Limited: $1.25 million

Community events providing meals and fencing supply packs to farmers, with mental health advisers, financial advisers, and farm advisers present.

Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou Trustee: $1.14 million

Funding to ensure whānau have access to safe, clean, and secure drinking water from their pā during times of drought, floods, or road closures.

Tararua District Council: $1 million

Supporting farmers in the Tararua district with urgent repair and resilience works, including fixing critical farm tracks, boundary fences, water supply infrastructure, and floodgate structures.

Guardians of Tutira and Districts Incorporated: $975,000

Supporting Tutira and districts’ farmers to improve the health and safety of people and animal welfare following the North Island weather events, including funding repairs to tracks, culverts, fords, fencing, cattle-stops, and other crossings.

Te Roroa Commercial Development Ltd: $957,000

Continuing an existing iwi-led initiative, supported by Northland Regional Council, central government agencies and lines companies, to turn trees toppled during Cyclone Gabrielle into free firewood for low-income whānau and to remove trees which could cut power in future severe weather events.

AgFirst Gisborne: $926,000

Restoring Rere, Tairāwhiti, by supporting farmers to address time-critical maintenance, lowering risk to health and safety of people and animals. 

Mahurangi Oyster Farmers Ltd: $923,504

Funding to repair damaged farm structures and replace lost stock for 39 oyster farms and continue to monitor water quality.

Seafood New Zealand Ltd: $874,920

Mapping high-risk areas and large hazards on the seafloor to allow operators to safely re-enter key fishing grounds.

New Zealand Oyster Industry Association: $837,627

Supporting the recovery of Pacific oyster marine farms damaged by the North Island weather events.

NZ Apples and Pears Inc: $814,700

Providing expert technical advice to assist growers with their recovery and mental wellbeing. Collect data to identify and target appropriate support for affected growers. Support growers to meet time-critical compliance requirements such as food safety testing, grower meetings, provision of technical expert advice, and the development of a tool to connect affected people.

Horticulture Executive Services Ltd: $695,000

Undertaking a project to assess the impact of the North Island weather events on growers, ensuring tailored support can be provided. Engaging experts to advise on the development of a biological waste protocol that manages biosecurity and human health and safety, and crop management and recovery.

Hawke's Bay Fruitgrowers' Association: $604,800

Deliver tailored, in-person services to horticultural growers and additional support to the Horticulture Advisory Group. Connect growers with expert advice and support offered by industry, councils, government, and organisations.

Waimatā Catchment Group: $598,173

Coordination of community-led recovery, including on-farm repairs and support for farmers impacted by the cyclone within the Waimata catchment.

National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited (NIWA): $580,000

Collect and analyse soil and marine sediment samples to better understand the sediment impacts from Cyclone Gabrielle on habitats in the Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay regions.

Horticulture New Zealand: $518,310

Coordinating community-led recovery, increasing community members’ access to the support needed for their recovery. Delivering specialised support and information resources, supporting the movement of community coordinators and specialist advisers into and around isolated regions, and providing expert advice to inform decision-making and management actions.

Farmlands: $500,000

The Post Your Support campaign provides support through grants to farmers and growers who had fencing and or growing structures damaged or destroyed by Cyclone Gabrielle.

BML Consulting: $500,000

Implementing the Lifestyle Block Support Programme to support under-serviced lifestyle block rural communities impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Federated Farmers: $470,000

Assisting about 100 farmers with the installation of boundary fencing by contracting professional fencing teams, purchasing fencing posts and hardware, and donating two tractors for the project.

Whangara Farms Partnership: $455,500

Whangara Farms is a partnership made up of 3 Māori incorporations in Tairāwhiti, including 7 separate farm blocks. Funding provides for urgent maintenance needs, which includes riverbank and livestock fence replacement, track and land reinstatement from slips, and funding for Starlink or satellite phones.

Whangara Community Catchment Group Incorporated: $455,000

Carry out urgent maintenance for farms within the Whangara Catchment area. Repair fencing, replacing floodgates, and re-establishing water supply for livestock.

Farmers' Mutual Group (FMG): $430,000

Providing wellbeing tools, resources, and community events to assist farmers, growers, and their families to manage recovery pressures. Support is provided by key rural organisations.

Te Tumu Paeroa - Office of the Māori Trustee: $405,210

Undertaking damage impact assessments using aerial and satellite imagery of individual agricultural and horticultural operations on whenua Māori in Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay, and Wairarapa to assist with recovery options planning.

Agri-Women's Development Trust: $392,190

Providing wellbeing tools, resources, community events to assist farmers, growers, and their families manage the stress and pressure of recovery. Support is provided by key rural organisations involved in psychosocial recovery.

Taiao Connect Ltd: $363,000

Funding the ongoing coordination, supply, and delivery of stock feed, fencing materials, other essential farming materials, and access to professional support services for farmers and growers in Tairāwhiti affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Seafood Sector Network Trust (FirstMate): $310,252

Wellbeing and resilience programme for those in the seafood sector and their whānau in cyclone-affected regions of Northland, Tairāwhiti, and Hawke’s Bay.

BuggaDigs: $310,080

Supporting farmers, Māori landowners, and lifestyle block owners north of Tokomaru Bay to sell livestock, access feed, and fix damaged infrastructure like tracks, bridges, and dams.

Trustees of the Totaranui Nama Ono Trust: $309,525

Re-establishing infrastructure on Māori land blocks impacted by the North Island weather events, including funding for fencing, land stabilisation, and protection.

Manawatū River Catchments Collective: $300,000

Assisting farmers in the Pohangina catchment to undertake uninsurable repairs and resilience work such as repairing farm tracks which provide critical access, boundary fencing to keep livestock contained, and the reinstatement of critical water supplies.

Mangaone Catchment Group Incorporated: $300,000

Providing urgent maintenance for the health and safety of people and livestock, access to expert advice and mental health support, and to run community events.

Mates of Hawke’s Bay Charitable Trust: $275,000

Mates4Life is a suicide prevention and mental wellbeing programme developed for Hawke’s Bay.

Wairoa District Council: $250,000

Supporting isolated Wairoa communities and whānau by distributing essential supplies and equipment, such as generators and communications equipment.

Hear For You Trust (#Hear4U): $250,000

The #Hear4U Cyclone Relief Project provides mental health support for rural communities and primary industry workers.

Beef and Lamb New Zealand: $230,000

Supporting a community-led approach to help people access expert advice, including enabling the development and implementation of short-term recovery plans.

Guardians of the Ruakituri Incorporated: $225,369

Funding to reinstate boundary and road fencing destroyed by land slips and drop-outs during Cyclone Gabrielle. Maintaining access to Ruakituri and providing resilience by replacing weakened cattle stops on the main Ohuka/Erepeti Road access route.

Foundation for Arable Research: $200,000

Development of community support hubs for cropping farmers on flood-affected farms in Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti to support their recovery and resilience, and facilitation of soil and plant testing in these regions.

Forestry Industry Contractors Association: $180,500

Rolling out mental health and wellbeing programme Be A Mate – Hei Hoa Te Ngāhere to corporate managers, forestry owners, employees, contractors, and crews in Tairāwhiti and Hawke's Bay impacted by the North Island weather events.

Mōtū Catchment Group: $173,126

Urgent maintenance to Mōtū catchment properties damaged by the cyclone to drain paddocks, repair tracks and laneways, and reinstate and repair dams and culverts. 

Eastland Wood Council Incorporated: $150,000

Running events for forestry kaimahi and their whānau. Developing plans for the mobilisation of machinery to reopen roads and access to isolated communities, certification of machinery operations, and the development of a centralised communication and coordination hub.

Forestry Industry Safety Council: $132,100

Targeted campaign to lift contractor and worker health and safety certification in Tairāwhiti.

Rural Women New Zealand Incorporated: $130,000

Providing wellbeing tools, resources, and community events to assist farmers, growers, and their families to manage recovery pressures. Support is provided by key rural organisations.

Coromandel Marine Farmers’ Association Incorporated: $129,500

Funding for technical food safety advice, environmental sampling, and assay costs to support the inner Hauraki Gulf aquaculture industry following the cyclone.

Forestry Industry Contractors Association: $96,500

Delivering workshops for forestry business employers to reduce the risk of social and economic harm following Cyclone Gabrielle covering financial literacy and lending, commercial contract acumen, health and safety, and mental wellbeing.

Rock Lobster Industry Council: $75,000

Research project to analyse and better understand the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle on the abundance and distribution of rock lobster in FMA 2.

Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd (ESR): $72,000

Viral analysis of shellfish samples in Hawke’s Bay following Cyclone Gabrielle.

Te Awahohonu Forest Trust: $68,226

Using Lidar mapping to inform recovery solutions that are resilient to future weather events and are beneficial to the environment, local community, and other Māori entities.

Wairoa Community Development Trust: $60,200

Running monthly events for Wairoa farmers to get off the farm and connect with others.

Wairoa Farms Vets Limited: $60,000

Relocating and repairing the damaged Huramua water scheme to ensure livestock have access to drinking water.

Aorangi Māori Trust Board (Whatumā Management Group): $56,802

Replacing and restoring fencing along the edge of Lake Whatumā in Central Hawke's Bay damaged during the North Island weather events.

Waihi Drainage District Incorporated: $55,000

Supporting Pongakawa farmers affected by Cyclone Gabrielle to improve farm drainage, address wellbeing issues, and financial stress.

Northern Wairoa Vegetable Growers Association Inc: $50,000

Provide access to expert advice to help with critical health and safety activities on-farm to alleviate mental health and wellbeing pressures for Northern Wairoa growers.

Muriwai Lifeguard Services Amenities Trust: $50,000

Funding to the purchase and installation of a generator to provide power for the Muriwai community hub.

Ko Wai Tōu Ingoa Hauora: $50,000

Wellbeing support for people living rurally in Napier, Hastings, and central Hawke's Bay.

Federated Farmers – Feed Coordination Service: $49,132

The Feed Coordination Service provides a central hub to register feed for donation or sale, and a matching service for farmers seeking feed.

Elite Wool Training – Gisborne: $40,000

A mental health and wellbeing initiative to support rangatahi affected by the North Island weather events and delivering a beginner's shearing course for secondary school students.

Hawke's Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society: $40,000

Delivering Loving our Ladies events that includes four workshops in Napier and Hastings. The events support the wellbeing of rural women in and around the agriculture and horticulture sectors.

Aquaculture Environmental Limited: $38,660

Sampling microbiological and metal contaminants in mussels in the immediate Hawke's Bay region for assurance of food safety.

AgFirst Waikato - Feed Survey: $36,000

A monthly survey and report that outlines the current and forecast feed conditions (pasture and supplementary feed) that provides farmers with better information to support feed planning.

Cawthron Institute Trust Board: $34,175

Sampling microbiological and metal contaminants in mussels in the immediate Hawke's Bay region for assurance of food safety.

Fishing Admin Services: $32,000

Providing business support and direction to the Coromandel seafood sector along with mental health and wellbeing support.

Poverty Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Association: $30,000

Running a wellbeing/recovery expo at the annual Poverty Bay A&P Show to provide ongoing support for the community after Cyclone Gabrielle and other weather events.

AsureQuality Limited: $27,353

Providing key data to assess potential ongoing food safety risk associated with the consumption of recreationally gathered seafood in the impacted areas.

New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc: $22,500

Training for industry representatives to identify mental health issues among growers and refer them to the Rural Support Trust.

Putt Consulting: $19,600

Development of online educational modules on animal welfare in disasters, safety and handling practices, and animal behaviours.

Companion Animals New Zealand: $5,841

Running free equine microchipping and registration events for horse owners to support horse reunification with their owners after potential adverse events.

Poverty Bay Hunt Incorporated: $4,200

Funding urgent maintenance to replace fencing damaged by the North Island weather events on the property bordering state highway 2 to protect livestock.

The Vet Centre Wairarapa Limited: $2,000

Delivery of a one-day equine microchipping event in the Wairarapa for owners of 100 horses and ponies. 

Heretaunga Hastings District Council: $1.27 million

Establishment of 10 sustainable community hubs in isolated communities in the Heretaunga Hastings District Council area.

Wairoa District Council: $800,000

Establishing community resilience hubs in 8 isolated rural communities within the Wairoa district.

Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou (3TK): $335,000

Funding for equipment, resources, and training for 11 bases that make up the Ngati Porou East Coast Emergency Management Network.

Masterton District Council: $320,000

Prepare and provide community hubs to support recovery in isolated communities. Fund mental health support and community groups working with vulnerable people in isolated rural areas.

Te Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Trustee: $250,249

Funding the ongoing coordination and distribution of essential supplies to whānau in Wairoa impacted by the North Island weather events to support recovery, including food parcels, cleaning supplies, and personal protection equipment.

Tararua District Council: $250,000

Supporting isolated rural communities to become more prepared and resilient for future weather events. A community hub coordinator will engage with 8 communities. The project will also fund satellite radios, generators, and Starlink hardware.

Wairoa Farm Vets Limited: $200,000

Funding to provide potable drinking water to the Huramua Marae and community and future-proofing the Huramua Marae as a community meeting point and emergency hub.

Paparimu Community Centre Incorporated: $109,500

Equipping and upgrading the Paparimu Hall enabling it to be used as a community emergency hub, including the purchase of a generator, storage shed, and communication devices for the hall.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Tinui Volunteer Fire Brigade): $100,000

Funding an ePod container to support the Tinui community in the event of adverse events. The container will contain essential supplies and equipment, such as tools, generators, satellite devices, water filtration systems, and medical kits.

Ngāti Hinemanu Ngai Te Upokoiri me ōna Piringa Hapū Authority: $100,000

Implementing the Utaina Omahu Recovery Plan, specifically, the development of a spatial plan and mapping system. The project will continue recovery operations, providing support and a hub at Omahu Marae.

The Proprietors of Waipuka 3B1C1 Incorporated (1977): $100,000

Establish and implement a communal emergency area to increase the emergency preparedness of the Waipuka/Ocean Beach community.

Waimarama Voluntary Rural Fire: $100,000

Purchasing equipment, communication devices, and containers to provide essential services in the event of a disaster that leaves the community isolated.

Rongomaiwahine Iwi Charitable Trust (Te Oranga Whai Aro O Rongomauwahine): $100,000

Supporting marae and community facilities to provide hub locations through resilience containers and their planning and operation. The resilience containers and marae are community-led and increase the access to isolated communities needed for current recovery and future planning.

Manea Footprints of Kupe: $100,000

Development of a community safety and wellbeing plan, purchasing equipment to prepare the community for isolation during adverse weather events, and holding wānanga to share information.

Maraetotara Rural Fire Force: $100,000

Funding for an emergency resilience ePOD for the Maraetotara community to help prepare for periods of isolation due to road access issues from cyclone damage.

Maraekakaho Church Hall Trust Board: $100,000

Funding for specialised support and training to build community resilience and provide essential equipment and materials to support the community hall as a safe and effective emergency hub.

Trustees of Whakapaurangu Pa Trust (trading as Te Aowera Marae): $100,000

Creation of a community garden based at Te Aowera Marae to establish sustainable agricultural systems and eco-friendly practices that will enable whānau and hapū members to learn how to grow their own kai as a means of attaining kai sovereignty (food security) and increase self-sustainability.

Northland Regional Council: $100,000

Providing support for the establishment of rural community-led groups, creation of formal Community Response Plans, and purchase of essential equipment to support local communities. Specialised support and information will be delivered to isolated rural communities and rural primary producers and lifestyle block owners.

Tuapiro Marae Charitable Trust: $80,000

Supporting Tuapiro Marae in establishing a community hub to support its operation in an emergency to coordinate response and recovery support.

Ngāti Hei Charitable Trust: $75,000

Supporting the activation and operation of a community support hub to become a centre for iwi-led initiatives and directly supporting whānau impacted by the weather events.

Colville Junction Charitable Trust: $60,000

Equipping local facilities in Colville to serve as community hubs during emergencies and supporting community resilience by funding the purchase and installation of generators for three hubs.

Bay View Community Charitable Trust: $53,350

Funding to host a community event and support a community hub which assists Hawke’s Bay communities affected by the cyclone with recovery. 

Thames-Coromandel District Council: $49,804

Establish resilience resources in 10 marae/Māori communities on the Coromandel Peninsula to support wellbeing by improving their capacity to look after their needs when they are isolated.

Norwest Care Trust (Kumeū Emergency Network): $34,338

Purchase of equipment and training to reduce the damage from future flooding events and support the recovery of the Kumeū-Huapai and Tupaki communities from the 2023 weather events.

Parent Aid, North West: $33,000

Providing support in affected communities to families displaced or affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Matapiro District Recreation Society: $32,660

Funding for the Matapiro Community Hall to provide support in future civil defence emergencies by reinstating and future-proofing the water supply and buying and connecting a generator.

Thames-Coromandel District Council: $30,000

Provide wellbeing events to offer psychosocial support for isolated rural communities in the Thames-Coromandel District.

Wairamarama Community Incorporated: $29,499

Purchasing equipment, communication devices, and containers to provide essential services for the community in the event of a disaster that leaves the community isolated.

Whangateau Residents and Ratepayers Association: $28,800

Setting up and equipping a community hub at Whangateau to support the community during adverse weather events.

Farming Women Tairāwhiti: $28,304

Mental health and wellbeing events that enable the 600 members in Farming Women Tairāwhiti to connect with each other, share experiences, and reduce the feeling of isolation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Ngāti Maru Ki Hauraki: $28,090

An iwi-led initiative focussing on events that support rangatahi through the anxiety and isolation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Waiwhare Community Centre Incorporated: $28,000

Providing services and support to the Waiwhare community and wider districts affected by Cyclone Gabrielle through community clinics and events targeted at recovery-led initiatives.

Coromandel Independent Living Trust: $23,000

Installing a generator and gas califonts at the Coromandel Rugby Football and Sports Club and creating a community hub that can be used as a civil defence base.

Pukekohe Community Action Charitable Trust: $10,000

Funding community groups and support networks to coordinate community-led recovery and increase community members' access to support.

Waimata Residents Association: $10,000

Creating a community hub for Waimata residents which includes the purchase and installation of Starlink units, a defibrillator, and emergency-related supplies.

Mahurangi East Residents and Ratepayers: $10,000

Providing generator equipment and Starlink satellite communication access for vulnerable and aged community residents who were cut off during the North Island weather events.