Hastings Councillor Adrienne Pierce said money donated for Kaikora's earthquake relief would be better spent on people struggling within the Hastings community.
The people of Hastings are to make a $50,000 contribution towards relief efforts following the Kaikoura earthquake last week.
At a Hastings District Council meeting yesterday, councillors agreed to extend support to the Kaikoura and Hurunui districts, with the money to be initially taken from unbudgeted expenditure.
In September 2010,
the council made a donation of $100,000 to the Canterbury Earthquake Fund, part of a $275,000 donation from Hawke's Bay to support the relocation and stress respite travel to Hawke's Bay for Christchurch residents.
In this case, councillors noted that the area affected was home to a small ratepayer base, and agreed to investigate where the money would be of most use.
Options put forward included the Takahanga Marae Civil Defence Welfare Centre, the Red Cross, and the Canterbury Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Mayoral fund.
