Wellington Mayor Andrew Little provides an update on the flooding situation in the capital after a night of torrential rain. Video / Ryan Bridge TODAY
The Government has announced $100,000 of support for flood-hit Wellingtonians, bolstering a fund set up to help residents whose homes were battered by last week’s record severe weather event.
Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell, who had been on the ground in the capital in the aftermath of the flooding,said the impacts were “hugely disruptive and damaging”.
The contribution will go towards the mayoral relief fund, set up last week by Wellington City Council in collaboration with Wellington City Mission.
The fund, which is also open for public donations, is used by the Wellington City Mission to support those directly affected.
In addition to the $100,000 towards Wellington, the minister has also allocated $50,000 for Ruapehu District Council’s Mayoral Relief Fund for those impacted by the flooding in Ohura, which caused the area to be cut off.
About 40 people in Wellington have been forced into temporary accommodation after their homes became uninhabitable, and 700 properties have been impacted by flooding, debris, and slips, officials told Wellington City Councillors yesterday.
Speaking from the storm-damaged South Coast last week, Wellington Mayor Andrew Little said damage from the event could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
As the impact on residents and level of property damage had become clear, it was obvious that “many residents need financial support,” Little said.
City Missioner Murray Edridge called for people to contribute to the kitty, saying Wellington “has a reputation for extraordinary generosity to support those in the community who are in trouble”.
Resident Mika Faletolu surveys the damage to his Ohiro Road property after torrential rain brought down rocks and debris from above. Photo / Mark Mitchell
A record early morning deluge saw 77mm of rainfall in less than an hour, causing slips and flash flooding.
The home of brothers Harry Polaco and Walmer Polania on Ohiro Road, Wellington, that was flooded during a severe rain event in the early hours of April 20, 2026. Photo / Marty Melville
It offers one-off emergency relief to people in need of help in the form of food, shelter and clothing, following an emergency.
The last Wellington Mayoral Relief Fund was launched after the Loafers Lodge tragedy, when five people were killed in the boarding house fire. That fund raised $400,000 to support those displaced.
As of yesterday, the flood-relief fund was at $260,000 from 411 donors, Edridge said.
Those wanting to contribute to the flood relief fund can deposit money via the Wellington City Mission here.
You can also donate through online banking to account number 03-0547-0296036-17, account name “The Wellington City Mission Anglican Trust Board”, using the reference “Relief Fund”.
Ethan Manera is a Wellington-based journalist covering Wellington issues, local politics and business in the capital. He can be emailed at ethan.manera@nzme.co.nz.
