Wairoa District Council Mayor, Craig Little, has welcomed the Government’s commitment of an additional $3 million to support the ongoing recovery efforts following recent flooding.
Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon visited Wairoa late last week to assess the flood impact firsthand, along with Emergency Management and Recovery Minister, Mark Mitchell and East Coast MP, Dana Kirkpatrick.
“The Prime Minister heard our concerns first-hand following this devastating flood and has assured us he will continue to support our community,” said Mayor Little.
“I also want to thank Minister Mark Mitchell for supporting us too and being back in Wairoa again.
“This additional funding is a lifeline for our community as we begin the monumental task of recovery. The impact of the flooding has been substantial, with an estimated $40 million in damages.
“We are committed to working tirelessly alongside our residents and government partners to navigate through this difficult time. The road ahead will be long and tough, but with this support, we will rebuild stronger than ever before,” he said.
The funding allocation will specifically cover the collection, removal, and proper disposal of sediment, debris, and household waste, aiming to restore normalcy for affected residents as swiftly as possible.
Already, the government had allocated $600,000 towards initial relief efforts in Wairoa.
With this latest commitment, a total of $3.6 million is now available to aid in the recovery and rebuilding process.
“Our priority is to ensure that communities can return to normalcy as quickly as possible,” said Prime Minister Luxon.
“We are committed to standing by the people of Wairoa and all affected regions during these challenging times.”
