Last week's severe weather damaged roads and homes in multiple communities. Photo: Supplied / Philippa Wright
The government will make Civil Defence payments available for people affected by last week's weather events, in specific areas.
The Green Party earlier questioned why they were not activated sooner, calling them a lifeline for affected communities.
The payments would be for people based in Rawhiti, Ngaiotonga, Bland Bay (Whangaruru North), Punaruku, Ōakura (Whangaruru South), Mokau, Helena Bay, Mimiwhangata, Whananaki, Waioweka Gorge, Hicks Bay, and Te Araroa.
Social development minister Louise Upston said the payments would help cover some of their costs.
"We want to make sure those communities that are doing it tough because of the latest severe weather event have as much support as possible," she said.
The payments varied depending on someone's circumstances, and what they were paying for.
For example, a single person needing support for food, clothing, or bedding could receive a maximum of $400.
A couple without children could receive up to $600, a couple or sole parent with one or two children could receive up to $900, and a couple or sole parent with three or more children could get up to $1100.
They could also be used to help pay for hotel or motel bills, or the costs of staying in hosted accommodation (but not for the Temporary Accommodation Service, or if someone had been offered free accommodation and chosen not to take it), and assist with lost income.
Again, the amounts varied depending on someone's age or dependants.
Recipients did not have to be on a benefit to qualify, and did not need to be New Zealand residents.
People whose insurance could end up covering the costs could still access the payment, but would have to pay it back if they received an insurance payout.
Upston told RNZ the decision to make the payments available was based on feedback on the ground from Civil Defence Emergency Management Teams and Ministry of Social Development officials.
"When we have a situation like this, where there are different regions affected, but actually smaller locations that are more significantly affected, and it's due to a couple of factors. One is, can someone, do they have to move out of their home? Or, in some instances, are they kind of trapped in their area and unable to travel out? Or is their place of employment affected so that they can't go to work?
"So basically, when we stand up a Civil Defence Payment, people contact MSD, go through their individual circumstances, their needs are assessed, and then the payments are made. And generally they're pushed out within a day."
Upston said Ministry of Social Development regional teams would continue to "actively engage" with Regional Public Service networks and Civil Defence Emergency Management, and will continue to assess whether the payments were needed in other affected areas.
"Whether it was two locations or ten is irrelevant. It's the people on the ground, the community, the councils, the Civil Defence organisation and MSD on the ground who determine whether or not a Civil Defence Payment is required."
The Green Party's social development spokesperson Ricardo Menéndez March earlier told RNZ the government had to use every tool it had in the toolkit, and questioned why the payments had not yet been activated.
Following the announcement on Thursday afternoon that the payments had been activated, he still had questions as to why it took so long.
"I think the government has taken too long investigating whether they should roll out this critical toolkit. The community, marae, and other groups have opened their doors from day one," he said.
Upston insisted this was a similar timeframe to previous decisions, with the decision to make payments in Nelson, Tasman, and Marlborough following flooding in 2022 also taking a week.
The government had also provided $1.2 million towards Mayoral Relief Funds and a further $1m to reimburse marae that provided shelter and support.
It had stood up a Temporary Accommodation Service, and sent motorhomes to remote and isolated communities.
"Our focus this time round, rather than have people looking for accommodation assistance through the Civil Defence Payments, we've actually focused on getting accommodation solutions for them faster. So I think that's something that's worth taking into account," Upston said.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
