Date posted: 24/02/2023

Natural disaster resources for New Zealand

A range of resources and useful links to help members respond to, and recover from, natural disasters in New Zealand.

In Brief

New Zealand is susceptible to many natural hazards, including earthquakes, volcanoes, erosion, landslides and extreme weather events.
This page contains information on wellbeing, government assistance and other resources for members, their clients, businesses and communities impacted by natural disasters.
We will update these resources with new links as they become available.

As natural disasters such as floods, storms, and droughts impact New Zealand, our thoughts are with all our members, including those in practice supporting their clients and the wider communities.

Chartered Accountants are often the backbone of their communities, and it is during times like these we often draw on the strength of our community and peers.

Your CA community is here to support you. We have a range of resources to help you respond and recover, including a Checklist for Small Businesses Impacted by Natural Disasters.

Hawke's Bay and East Coast Flood Support (Feb 2023)

Specific resources and support available to those affected by the recent weather events created by Extra Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle, including from government agencies, banks and insurance organisations.

Resource link	Description
Inland Revenue Te Tari Taake	Further information in regard to recent weather events - Cyclone Gabrielle update including: Interest remission. 1 March filing date. Cost of Living payments. Donated trading stock. Donations & Donee organisations. Tax credits for donations. Income Equalisation.
Work and Income Te Hiranga Tangata	Access a Civil Defence Payment that can help with: emergency food, clothing and bedding if yours has been damaged or destroyed by the cyclone costs if you've had to leave your home loss of income because you can't work due to the cyclone a payment if you have evacuees staying with you in places such as a private home, marae or community centres. Call 0800 400 100. Open 7am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm Saturday, and 8am to 1pm Sunday.
Ministry of Social Development Te Manatu Whakahiato Ora	Information about the Community Support Package for people impacted by North Island floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.
Civil Defence National Emergency Management Agency Te Rakau Whakamarumaru	Cyclone Gabrielle – What support is available and where can you get help. This NEMA factsheet provides information about the various support available to those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Beehive.govt.nz - The official website of the NZ Government	Information on an initial recovery mobilisation fund to help farmers and growers hit by Cyclone Gabrielle from 15 February 2023.
Beehive.govt.nz	New service set up to support homeowners with natural disaster insurance claims.
Ministry for Primary Industries. Manatu Ahu Matua	MPI Information and resources to help you deal with floods including a Cyclone Gabrielle update.
Hawkes Bay Emergency Management	Napier City Mayoral Relief Flood Response Fund now open for applications.
Hawkes Bay Emergency Management Emergency updates	Hawkes Bay emergency updates for the region in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle and its immediate aftermath.
Tairawhiti Civil Defence Emergency Management	Emergency management information for the Tairāwhiti district.
Hawkes Bay Regional Council	Information about Flood relief funds available to those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Gisborne District Council	Tairawhiti Mayoral Relief Fund.
Gisborne District Council Te Kaunihera Te Tairawhiti	Gisborne District Council information in relation to food supply, fuel and water as well as other Council services.
Hastings District Council	Cyclone Gabrielle updates for those in the Hastings District.
Central Hawkes Bay District Council	Information on Cyclone Gabriel, Level 4 Water Restrictions and Boil Water Notices.
Napier City Council	Information on Cyclone Gabrielle updates, Urgent Water Update for Level 5 water restrictions and Mayoral Relief Fund Response.
Tararua District Council	View the latest update on the impact Cyclone Gabrielle has had on the district.
Wairoa District Council	Information from Wairoa District Council for the region re: Boil water notices. Road Closures. Wairoa District Council Services.
East Coast Rural Support Trust	The East Coast Rural Support Trust is a charitable trust operating in the East Coast Region. It is part of a nationwide network of Rural Support Trusts.
OSPRI	Support for farmers affected by flooding in Tairāwhiti Gisborne.
Waka Kotahi	NZ Transport Agency – Roading status update.
ICNZ Insurance Council of New Zealand (PDF)	Cyclone Gabrielle insurance recovery advice.
ASB	ASB extending financial relief and $2,000 one-off payment to customers affected by Cyclone Gabrielle
ANZ	Support for personal and business customers. Please click on the relevant link under ‘how we can help’.
BNZ	Severe weather updates and support. If you’ve been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle or the recent flooding, we have support packages available to help.
Kiwibank	North Island cyclone & flooding financial relief for personal and business customers.
Westpac	Westpac extends relief options to customers affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.
New Zealand Claims Resolution Service	Supporting homeowners across New Zealand to find a solution to their residential insurance claims resulting from natural disasters.
Ministry for Primary Industries	Cyclone Gabrielle recovery: advice, support, and funding. Financial support is available to farmers, growers, whenua Māori owners and rural communities to support the immediate response and recovery efforts.
New Zealand Immigration	New visa to help with recovery efforts following Cyclone Gabrielle.

Auckland flood support (January 2023)

From 28 January, Auckland, Northland and Coromandel regions experienced extreme weather events resulting in widespread damage, with civil defence centres activated and households evacuated.

As clean-up and insurance assessments commence, Chartered Accountants ANZ has assembled links of resources and support available for affected members and clients.

Resource link	Description
Auckland Emergency Management	Latest updates on the flooding and torrential rain in the Auckland region.
Auckland Council	Information on what to do in a flooding emergency on private property or public land, and how to report flooding issues.
Work and Income	Civil Defence payments are available for people who have been affected by the flooding in the Auckland region. For financial help, call 0800 400 100.
Inland Revenue	Inland Revenue is prioritising support to affected customers. Find out how to manage tax obligations, including upcoming filing and paying on time.
Ministry of Social Development, Study Link	Help is available if you're affected by the floods in Auckland, Waitomo or Tairāwhiti.
Civil Defence fact sheet	This page contains a fact sheet outlining what support is available and where can you get help.
Our Auckland. To Tatou Tamaki Makaurau	Auckland Council Emergency Relief Fund to support Aucklanders affected by floods.
Ministry for Pacific Peoples	Information and support for affected Pacific Aotearoa communities.
Pacifica Futures	List of contacts including how to connect with Pasifika Futures partners for support.
Watercare	Regular updates on the water supply and impact on wastewater operations.
Auckland Regional Public Health Service	Information on food safety, cleaning and restoring your home, and contact with floodwater.
Student Volunteer Army, Te Hunga Tuao	Reach out to the SVA if you require assistance with non-urgent clean-up support.
Tenancy Services	Find out what you need to do if your rental property has been damaged by a natural disaster.
Gallagher	Insurance claims and assistance information specific to the Auckland flooding.
Tower	Insurance advice during and after a flooding event, and claims information specific to the Auckland flooding.
Vero	Vero support for customers experiencing trouble with the Auckland flooding event.
Westpac	Westpac is offering financial support to personal and business customers affected by flooding.
Kiwibank	Flood financial relief options for individuals and businesses.
ANZ	Support and information for insurance customers, personal and home loan customers and business customers.
BNZ	Assistance package to support customers who’ve been impacted.
ASB	Support available to customers who may require emergency financial assistance.

Your wellbeing

Resources to support your wellbeing during a natural disaster.

Resource link	Description
CA Wellbeing	CA Wellbeing provides resources and information to support mental health and wellbeing for our members. This includes counselling support through our Employee Assistance Program which is available to all members and can be accessed 24 hours, seven days a week. As a member, up to three sessions are provided free of charge.
Mental Health First Aid Guide for Chartered Accountants	A guide, prepared in consultation with Mental Health First Aid Australia, on how to help a colleague or client showing signs of developing a mental health problem or in crisis. If they require immediate support, please call Lifeline New Zealand on 0800 LIFELINE (0800 543 354) or Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14.

Your clients and business

Government and other assistance for your clients and business.

Resource link	Description
Civil Defence	Civil Defence provide the latest information about the emergency status and management in your region.
Work and Income	Work and Income provide information on assistance available to those impacted by an emergency. This includes supporting clean-up projects after an event by providing subsidies or volunteers.
Government Information Hotline 0800 779 997	In a large-scale emergency, the Government Helpline will be activated to provide information about the services and assistance available to affected people. This includes emergency assistance, victim support and tax relief.
National Emergency Management Agency	Provides links to information useful in an emergency or disaster.
Business.govt.nz	Information on how to plan for and manage emergencies to minimise the impact on business.
Protecting your health in an emergency	In the event of an emergency, ordinary systems and services are often disrupted and unhealthy conditions can develop. You may survive a major disaster but be at risk of serious illness. This New Zealand Ministry of Health information is designed to help protect your health.
Coping with stress and anxiety	New Zealand Ministry of Health guidance for emergency response workers, health staff and volunteers on how to cope with stress and anxiety in an emergency situation.
Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs	Information about scheduled independent audits for compliance requirements under AML/CFT Act for people impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Your Community

Assistance available for your community.

Resource link	Description
Mayoral Relief funds Selwyn Nelson Auckland (PDF) Far North	Mayoral relief funds are administered by local authorities/councils. They are used to support and meet the needs of individuals, families, community organisations, small businesses, and marae affected by adverse events.
EQC	Access information on natural disaster insurance.
Rural Support Trust	Access your local trust to obtain information and assistance in getting emergency or on-going help following an adverse event.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)	MPI provide information on government and community support available to rural communities and individuals after an adverse event.
DairyNZ	Information to help prepare your business for and overcome adverse events.
Beef+Lamb New Zealand	Access information about the support available to flood affected farmers and volunteers.
Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE)	Information on MBIE's Temporary Accommodation Service which assists households affected by a natural disaster to find temporary accommodation while their home is repaired or rebuilt.
Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsmen	Information and guides on lodging an insurance claim in the wake of a natural disaster.
Victim Support	Provides practical advice on physical and emotional support available to those impacted by natural disasters.
ASB	ASB can help customers recover from an unexpected difficulty and get back to normal from natural disasters.
BNZ	Guidance for BNZ personal banking customers experiencing financial difficulty because of an illness, injury, loss of employment or income, or the end of a relationship.
ANZ	If you are experiencing financial stress or difficulties, there are several ways ANZ may be able to help.
Kiwibank	Guidance for Kiwibank customers about managing payments on your loans, credit cards or overdrafts, you may be in financial difficulty. This could be caused by situations such as a natural disaster.
Westpac	Westpac Assist provides financial hardship support.

Other resources

Resource link	Description
Managing the banking relationship following natural disasters	A guide with a rural insight for Chartered Accountants to help clients establish and maintain a good working relationship with their bank during or natural disasters.
Help clients recover from natural disasters	An Acuity article that explores how Chartered Accountants can help clients recover from of floods, fires, droughts and earthquakes.
CA ANZ checklist for small businesses impacted by natural disasters	A checklist for members impacted by natural disasters to use in their own business or to help them better advise clients who have been impacted.
Q&A: Dealing with natural disasters	This technical Q&A answers: I have a client that has been affected by the recent floods. What are the issues I need to consider when dealing with clients affected by natural disasters and is there any guidance available to help me?
Accounting implications of natural disasters	Information to assist businesses, their advisors and auditors when dealing with the accounting impacts of natural disasters.
CA Library crisis and disaster management reading list	Access a range of resources from the CA Library collection to help you respond and recover from natural disasters.

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