Hastings Mayor, Sandra Hazlehurst, has welcomed the announcement today that the Government will provide an interim payment to support homeowners displaced by Cyclone Gabrielle when their insurance payments for temporary accommodation run out.
The interim payment will be available from September 4 this year, paid weekly and directly to homeowners, and set at 100% of the region’s average rent. The payment is able to be
back-dated to 1 June, 2023, dependent on when insurance payments expired.
“We know that our people who have not been able to return to their homes have been finding it extremely stressful, both financially and emotionally, wondering how they will manage while their homes are being repaired and they await decisions on the future of their properties,” Mayor Hazlehurst (pictured) said.
“I raised my concerns with Government to see what they could do to assist with this difficult situation, and I am pleased that they have responded. This goes some way to helping more of our impacted residents cope and get through while the land categorisation decision-making process continues.”
The interim payment will be known as North Island Weather Events – Temporary Accommodation Assistance (NIWE TAA).
