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The Government’s cyclone recovery package offered to Gisborne District Council covers only a fraction of what the region asked for, official documents show.
Last month, the Government made a “take it or leave it” offer of $221 million.
The council requested $1.2 billion while the region’s iwi and Trust Tairāwhiti together requested a further $960m.
“The Government and Gisborne District Council negotiated and agreed the cost-sharing arrangement as the Crown’s contribution to support the recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle,” Cyclone Recovery Minister Grant Robertson said.
“It was never intended the Crown would meet all the costs of recovery for affected regions.”
Information provided by Minister Robertson’s office shows Gisborne District Council requested $1.2 billion over five years, focused on its “core business of local infrastructure and environmental management”.
Trust Tairāwhiti requested $61.5m in short-term direct funding, plus additional support for private financing and rates relief, focused solely on economic recovery.
Ngāi Tāmanuhiri requested up to $7m, primarily for emergency preparedness and resilience for the Muriwai/Tawatapu community, including the protection of Ngāi Tāmanuhiri natural and cultural taonga and the resilience of regional infrastructure.
Rongowhakaata requested $12m for “a wider shift toward addressing the long-term impacts of colonisation and reclaiming a Rongowhakaata approach through community and place-based inquiry, and indigenous, sustainable approaches”.
Ngāti Porou requested $140.4m up front, plus $355m over multiple years for four key domains of the natural, social, economic and built environments.
Te Aitanga a Māhaki and Ngai Tāmanuhiri jointly requested $384m, seeking statutory iwi leadership of civil defence and emergency management responses and financial support for housing, managed retreat, economic and land-use change initiatives.
Mr Robertson said the cost share agreement, now being consulted on by the district council, included funding for the voluntary buy-out of Category 3 residential properties, flood resilience work and roading.
“In addition, the Crown will pay the interest on a $30 million loan the council will use to support the region to recover.
“This loan facility recognises Gisborne district’s smaller ratepayer base compared to other severely affected regions, and the council’s ability to fund its share of the recovery.
“The Crown’s total cost share contribution is $221 million, which includes $17 million interest to be paid for the loan.
“In addition to the cost-share agreement, the Crown has committed a further $233 million to Tairāwhiti (as at September 25).
“This includes $16.2 million recently announced for flood resilience work.
“Other funding includes roading initiatives, temporary housing, health and psychosocial support for the community, business support and removal of sediment and woody debris.
“The Crown will continue to support Tairāwhiti as the community accesses programmes the Government has put in place, for example, our support for growers, farmers and businesses affected by North Island weather events, and our social support package.”
Consultation on whether to accept the offer ends on Monday, October 16.
To get involved go to the GDC website and read the consultation document or have your say at tinyurl.com/3dhnjaph