Cyclone Gabrielle recovery: advice and support

Farmers, growers, and whenua Māori owners in areas significantly affected by Cyclone Gabrielle were able to access support for urgent recovery efforts.

More than $64 million was paid out in recovery grants.

The funding enabled affected farmers and growers to undertake urgent repair work, including fencing, and clearing silt to save trees and vines.

Applications for recovery grants closed in April 2023.

Grants included:

• up to $10,000 for pastoral and arable farmers to help with initial recovery, such as repairs to water infrastructure for livestock, and fencing
• up to $2,000 per hectare (up to a maximum of $40,000) to remove silt from trees and vines, support clean-up, and minimise future losses.

Initial mobilisation support

MPI also provided $4 million to help rural communities with immediate recovery needs after Cyclone Gabrielle.

This was targeted funding to help with urgent primary sector needs that were not being met by other organisations. This fund is now closed.

The fund was fully committed to a range of projects covering aerial surveys, mental wellbeing, recovery advice, logistics and transport, fencing support, and reimbursement of costs of urgent response activity.

Budget 2023 provided $35.4 million to support the recovery of rural communities through 2 specific funds.

• NIWE time-critical primary industries recovery fund: $30 million to support the recovery of primary sector businesses and rural communities to boost health and safety and protect animal welfare following Cyclone Gabrielle.
• NIWE isolated rural communities recovery fund: $5.4 million to support the wellbeing of rural communities isolated by the weather events, including Cyclone Gabrielle.

The funding was available to all parts of the primary industries, including horticulture, agriculture, fisheries, and forestry. The fund is now closed.

Find out what NIWE projects were funded

The Government provided funding to support the management and removal of silt and debris across Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti. There was funding:

• to help councils process and dispose of debris coming from residential properties, and to deal with sediment on council land to make it available to the public again
• for commercial properties (including farmers and growers) to help clean up their land and return to profit, and
• for debris and sediment removal from whenua Māori.

For commercial properties, funding was provided through local councils in the form of grants.

Applications for the Sediment and Silt Recovery Fund in Hawke’s Bay are now closed.

Silt collection and waste – Hawkes Bay Regional Council 

Support to help with the clean-up of cyclone-related sediment and debris in Tairāwhiti was available in several funding rounds. Applications are now closed.

Tairāwhiti sediment and debris application – Gisborne District Council 

For whenua Māori owners, Te Puni Kōkiri managed the funds. Applications are now closed.

Whenua Māori sediment and debris management package – Te Puni Kōkiri | Ministry of Māori Development 

A package of financial support was developed to provide relief to growers, farmers and businesses.

• The loan guarantee scheme administered by the New Zealand Export Credit Office, and implemented by commercial lenders, such as banks.
• The North Island Weather Events Primary Producer Finance Scheme was administered by Kānoa, Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit.

Applications have now closed.

North Island Weather Events Loan Guarantee Scheme – Te Tai Ōhanga | The Treasury

North Island Weather Events Primary Producer Finance Scheme – Kānoa

Help with delivery of critical farm supplies and mustering of livestock

MPI provided additional support for isolated communities following Cyclone Gabrielle:

• Operation Outreach - worked with farm supply companies and vets in Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti to ensure critical supplies got to communities with no road access.
• Operation Muster – worked with Hawke’s Bay farmers to coordinate the movement of livestock where there was limited road access.

Cyclone recovery support for fishing, aquaculture and forestry

Government grants for seafood and forestry businesses of up to $40,000 were made available in 7 regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and the January floods in the North Island. Applications for grants have closed.