There is a big queue for help from the government's cyclone business recovery fund.
Checkpoint can reveal the $50 million relief package is massively over-subscribed in Hawke's Bay alone, leaving some worried they'll miss out on any financial support.
The fund was doubled earlier this month. It is for businesses severely disrupted by recent extreme weather events and to help with their immediate cashflow needs.
Eight agencies from seven affected areas, including Tai Rāwhiti, Hawke's Bay, and Thames Coromandel are responsible for approving applications and paying out the cash.
In Hawke's Bay that's the Chamber of Commerce already has recieved more than 1600 applications for more than $41 million-worth of assistance.
The whole fund for all regions is $50 million. The chamber has approved just over 500 applications.
The chamber declined to tell Checkpoint exactly how much of that pie its been allocated, whether the approved grants have acutally been paid out.
It says it is only sharing information "as directed by government," but demand has "well exceeded" available funding.
Meanwhile locals are worried grants are not getting to those who need it fast enough.
Greg Miller from Valley D'vine Restaurant in Esk Valley is one of them.
