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Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund

UPDATE: Applications to the Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund have now closed.

"Thank you so much to all the people who donated so generously," says Mayor Len. We had more than 200 applications, including a few late ones we're going to process. We are working through the applications now with a view to having successful applicants paid in early April.

We know the last week has been tough for many individuals, families, community organisations, small businesses, and marae in the Coromandel. Cyclone Gabrielle has brought about some significant damage and loss of revenue to our district.

To help mitigate these losses and support our people, our Council has established the Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund.

The Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund is open to Thames-Coromandel District Council residents, ratepayers or small business owners, and not-for-profit organisations who have suffered financial hardship because of damages caused by the Cyclone Gabrielle weather event.

The Fund may be used to support and meet the needs of affected individuals, families, community organisations, small businesses and marae.

It can be used to provide financial support for:

Cleaning debris from properties where people are uninsured or underinsured
Supporting individuals/families faced with hardships as a result of the emergency
Assisting small businesses impacted by the emergency
Assisting people with basic needs, household goods and personal items where the individual/family is uninsured or underinsured
Assisting with insurance excess payments

The aim of the fund is to help towards alleviating the emotional and financial stress experienced by individuals and families as a result of the event. The fund provides one off assistance for extraordinary circumstances, where a real need can be shown.

The fund is a last resort measure when people have exhausted other appropriate sources such as Work and Income New Zealand, EQC and other government agencies.

“We’re grateful to the government for funding an initial contribution of $100,000 to the Mayoral Relief Fund to help flood affected communities in our district,” says Mayor Len. “This is the start of a raft of assistance packages we’re seeking as work through recovery of these extreme weather events.”

Trust Waikato has also donated $30,000 to the relief fund.

The closing date for applying to the fund is 10 March 2023.

Once closed, all applications will be assessed and available funds will be allocated proportionately to applicants that meet the criteria. The amount available to each applicant that meets the criteria is $1,000 or $2,500. The amount granted will depend on the circumstances of the applicant.

Applications for assistance must be made in writing on the Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund application form, available both as an online form or printable PDF.

Further information supporting the application may be requested.

If you require assistance to complete the form, please call 07 8680200 and speak to one of our customer service personnel or drop in to one of our Council service centres or public libraries.

Donating to our Coromandel communities

If you would like to donate to help our communities, please use our Council's dedicated bank account below:

01-0455-0090620-02
Particulars: Your phone number
Reference: ReliefFund

Rates relief in stormy times

Our Council is doing all it can to help property-owners whose homes have been badly damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle. Properties that have been deemed uninhabitable (red stickered) are being granted a rates remission. Usually, we ask homeowners to apply for this. But in the case of this cyclone, we are automatically granting a rates remission during the period people’s properties are officially marked as uninhabitable.

In addition, we are extending the payment date for the current rates payments for all ratepayers, because of the weather-related obstacles to delivering rates notices and the difficulty for people to find ways to make payments with power and road disruptions. The date from which a late-payment penalty will be applied for this instalment is being pushed out from 22 February 2023 to 15 March 2023.

Further boost for Mayoral Relief Funds for communities impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle

This week the Government announced a further $500,000 for Mayoral Relief Funds to be disbursed to impacted communities in the Waikato including Thames-Coromandel, Matamata-Piako and Hauraki Districts. This funding is on top of an initial contribution of $100,000 to Thames-Coromandel following the late-January flooding.

“The devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle is immense, and there’s no getting away from the fact that life on the ground in the affected areas is really tough" says Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty.

“Local communities and councils understand where the immediate needs are and how to help whānau, community organisations and marae, and this funding will assist them in these efforts.

“These additional contributions will help ensure that support for recovery gets to those who need it most, as quickly as possible."

“This is in addition to the Government Community Support Package, and the interim emergency relief package announced by the Government yesterday."

Find out more here.

Business Assistance

Make a donation

Mayoral Disaster Relief Fun (4).png

The Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund is open for donations. This is your chance to support the people worst affected by the recent storm events.

You can do this simply through bank transfer.