The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding.
The funding will allow for 100 homes in Te Karaka and another 100 houses elsewhere in the region to be lifted. The homes will be chosen by Gisborne District Council.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins made the announcement yesterday at Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou.
“Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River flooded, breaching its stopbanks in multiple places and destroying properties,” he said.
“The funding I’m announcing is to lift at-risk houses in the township to reduce vulnerability and mitigate significant risks.
“The mana whenua of Te Karaka, Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki, have driven this project and I want to thank them for the work they have done on this,” he said.
“This work is critical for Tairāwhiti iwi and homeowners who have been displaced due to the recent weather events.
“While broader and more complex resilience measures may take a bit longer, raising houses provides an immediate and tangible solution that significantly reduces risk.
“One of the outcomes of the initiative is its positive impact on the affected Tairāwhiti communities. Elevated houses enable residents to return to their homes, allowing individuals to recover emotionally and materially in a more stable environment.
“There is more work to do in cyclone- and flood-affected regions and the Government continues to support those regions as they rebuild and recover,” Mr Hipkins said.
The $15 million announced is from the $100 million funding announced as part of Budget 2023. The fund was specifically set aside for practical flood protection infrastructure like stopbanks, as well as other local measures that can protect communities from flooding.
Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds and Regional Development Minister Kieran McAnulty also announced a $10 million package targeting nine projects which will support economic recovery in cyclone-impacted Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay (including Wairoa) and Northland.
The funded projects include a new i-Site and extending the runway at Wairoa Airport.
“It includes regional tourism recovery programmes, infrastructure resilience and training and accommodation support to rebuild work forces,” Ms Edmonds said.
“As we focus on helping businesses transition from response to recovery mode, these projects will be locally led and build resilience so they’re better set up for the future.
Mr McAnulty said the work on the projects was ready to begin and would make an immediate contribution towards local recovery and resilience.
Funding for the projects comes from the final allocation of the $75 million interim recovery package established earlier this year to provide support for businesses impacted by the North Island weather events.
In Tairawhiti the funding includes —
■ Workforce and employment initiatives: $1.1 million to Te Runanganui O Ngati Porou Trustee Limited. This is on behalf of the following providers — Te Tairāwhiti iwi Ngai Tamanuhiri, Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Rongowhakaata and Ngāti Porou, Hear For You, Right Here (RH) Consultants and Eastland Wood Council. This funding will provide training and build the workforce needed for essential recovery and rebuild works across Tairāwhiti, including the roading network.
■ Tourism support: $1.5 million to
Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou Trustee Limited to support the establishment of a new i-Site and deliver more compelling visitor experiences.
The funding for Wairoa includes:
■ Accommodation for rebuild workforce:
$1 million to Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa to develop accommodation for tradespeople working on the residential rebuild of Wairoa.
■ River reserve: $1.5 million to the Wairoa District Council to restore and improve the River reserve area east of the lighthouse to Locke Street.
■ Wairoa Airport runway extension: $1.2 million to the Wairoa District Council to extend the operational distance of the Wairoa Airport runway, improving access for air ambulance services and to fly in equipment and supplies in times of emergency.