Cyclone Gabrielle - Support is available

MBIE’s Temporary Accommodation Service has been activated to support our people who’ve been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. If you need help finding somewhere to live while your home is repaired or rebuilt, they can connect you to services and resources to help get you back on your feet. Call 0508 754 163 (Monday - Friday 8:30am-5pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am-5pm) or visit this website

Central Hawke's Bay District Council Mayoral Relief Fund 

• Information on how residents can apply to the fund, including eligibility criteria.

Central Hawke's Bay District Council Rates Relief 

• Central Hawke's Bay District Council has existing policies allowing for rates deferrals caused by financial hardship and/or civil defence declarations. This means eligible rate payers, who apply, can defer their rates for up to two years.

Community Matters

• Lottery Individuals with Disabilities Grant - Providing grants to people living with disabilities to help them have better access and be more connected to their communities. 

Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce

• If you own a business in Hawke’s Bay and have been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle, you can apply for support to help you recover.

Hawke's Bay Disaster Relief Fund

• This fund is designed to help Hawke’s Bay communities, individuals, families, community organisations and marae get immediate access to funds to assist with recovering from the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle within the Hawke’s Bay region.

Ministry of Primary Industries

• Funding and support for farmers, growers, and whenua Māori owners significantly affected by Cyclone Gabrielle recovery efforts.

Ministry of Social Development

• Community Support Package to help those affected by the recent North Island floods, including support for regions preparing to respond to Cyclone Gabrielle.

Rural Women New Zealand

• Rural Women's Adverse Event Fund

Work And Income

If you need general welfare support, or just a friendly voice on the end of the phone, contact our Welfare Response Team on 06 857 80 60.

Please let us know how we can help you if you have been affected by the floods, fill in a quick welfare check.

Our Waipawa Library and The Knowledge and Learning Hub - Te Huinga Wai in Waipukurau, will open their doors to you. There is Wi-Fi, printing available for insurance claims, cups of tea, books, and a cosy safe space for you to come together, relax and connect.  AA services are also available at Te Huinga Wai.

Waipawa Library

• Monday - Friday, 9am -1pm

Community Support Hubs

The Hubs provide information, assistance, and rural support for those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.

For more details check out our Community Support Hubs page.

Community Support Hubs

Food Supplies

• Central Hawke's Bay Food Bank at 125 Ruataniwha Street, Waipukurau. Phone 068589891. Email reception@centralconnect.co.nz or text or phone 0221358051. 
• The Food Basket, CHB Community Rooms on Kitchener Street, Waipukurau, Open everyday 10am - 4pm, Facebook @thefoodbasketchb

Clothing, bedding or furniture items

Clothing, bedding, linen, towels, shoes etc can be collected from Ascende Church (corner Ruataniwha Street and Kenilworth Street) Thursdays 10am - 6pm

Large items such as furniture and whiteware can be collected from 5 Cook Street, Waipukurau Monday - Friday 10am - 2pm.

We appreciate this will be a very difficult time for many people.

It is understandable to feel sad, distressed, worried, confused, anxious or angry, even if you’ve not been impacted personally by the flooding. Everyone reacts differently to difficult events, and some may find this time more challenging than others. Remember it’s ok to not feel ok.

If you or someone you know is worried or distressed, there is support available.

If you need general welfare support, or just a friendly voice on the end of the phone, contact our Welfare Response Team on 06 857 80 60.

If your life is in danger, call 111.

Useful Information

Managing stress in an emergency 

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Tips for coping after a natural disaster

Helping kids cope after a natural disaster

The Animal Support Hub at the Racecourse in Waipukurau has now transitioned to focusing on supporting rural stock and feed requirements. Donated feed for livestock is available from the Animal Support Hub. Open by appointment only, phone Kirsty Lawrence on 027 268 8890. 

Support for household pets will not be available however, if you are still experiencing impacts after the cyclone you can apply to the Central Hawke’s Bay Mayoral Relief fund or the Hawke’s Bay Disaster Relief Fund or call Council on 06 857 8060 for further support and information.

Mayoral Relief Fund

We’ve been overwhelmed with offers of clothing, food and voluntary support but for many in our community, financial support is one of their most pressing needs. Donating money to the fund is the best way that we can get the right support, at the right time to isolated farmers, families and households in Central Hawke’s Bay.  From the need to supply fuel for generators, through to those who don’t qualify for financial support or don’t have insurance.

People or organisations wanting to donate to the Mayoral Relief Flood Response Fund can:

• visit any Central Hawke’s Bay Library or the CHBDC Customer Service Centre (for cash or eftpos donations) or
• make online deposits to Central Hawke’s Bay District Council’s ANZ account 01-0777-0038665-000, with reference “Relief”.   

You can also donate via https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/central-hawkes-bay-flood-mayoral-relief-fund

Please note that donations made to the Mayoral Relief Fund will not qualify for a charitable donation rebate.

Hawke’s Bay Mayors have reactivated the regional Disaster Relief Trust, making it easy for people from anywhere in New Zealand to donate to the region’s Cyclone Gabrielle recovery effort. Set up for the same purpose during the 2020 droughts, Hawke’s Bay’s Mayors and Regional Council Chair have reactivated the Trust so that people can give knowing their donations will be spent on the most urgently needed support for the people and communities who need it most.

People wanting to donate can do so to the Hawke’s Bay Disaster Relief Trust. Account number: 02-0700-0010824-002. 

Support for Pōrangahau

The Pōrangahau community are doing us proud with their mahi and support for each other. Here are a couple of ways to help this isolated community directly. If you are based in or near Pōrangahau and able to volunteer your time helping with the recovery efforts please register and someone will be in contact with you. 

Volunteers in Central Hawke's Bay

'Volunteer in Central Hawke's Bay' facebook page has been set up to connect volunteers with those in need. People can offer up their services and support on this page and this will be directed and matched up to those most in need in our community.

VOLUNTEER IN CENTRAL HAWKE'S BAY

Volunteer Hub

Join us at The Waipawa Library which is the new location for the Volunteer Hub. You can pop down to our Volunteer Hub and register. No matter if you can offer an hour or an entire day, you'll be directed to the areas where you're needed most. 

Anyone who has already registered as a volunteer - should get an email from us, but you are also more than welcome to come see us at The Hub. If you're stuck with a huge clean up effort and need a helping hand - we are here to support you where we can!

The Volunteer Hub will also have wifi for those still needing to connect with family and friends.