Waipā District Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund now open for applications

The Waipā District Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund is now open for applications from people and groups across the district affected by recent flooding and storm damage.

Mayor Mike Pettit says the fund is there to help Waipā residents, whānau, small businesses, community organisations, volunteer groups and marae who are facing real hardship as they begin to recover.

“This weather event has hit some of our communities incredibly hard,” Mayor Pettit says. “People have lost belongings, homes have been damaged, and for many it’s been a really stressful and exhausting week.”

“This fund is about getting some practical help to those who need it most, as they start putting things back together.”

The fund can provide one-off support for urgent needs, such as replacing essential uninsured items, clearing debris from properties, helping small businesses get through the immediate impacts, and supporting marae and community groups involved in response and recovery.

Mayor Pettit says the fund is intended as a last resort, once other support options such as insurance or government assistance have been explored.

“We want to make sure this support goes to the people who genuinely need it, and that it’s used fairly and responsibly,” he says.

Applications are available online at www.waipadc.govt.nz/relieffund, or paper forms can be collected from the Waipā District Council office in Te Awamutu, the Te Awamutu Library, or Pirongia Four Square.

Completed applications can be submitted in person at Council offices, by email to relieffund@waipadc.govt.nz, or by post to:

Attention: Mayoral Relief Fund
Waipā District Council
Private Bag 2402
Te Awamutu 3840

Decisions on applications will be made by the Mayoral Relief Fund Panel, made up of Mayor Mike Pettit, Deputy Mayor Jo Davies-Colley, Pirongia Ward Councillor Clare St Pierre Councillor, Mike Montgomerie and long-time Te Pahu resident Alan Livingston, who is a former Waipā Mayor and former Waikato Regional Council chair.

The fund also remains open for donations from those who are able to contribute.

Donations can be made to:

Waipā District Council – Mayoral Relief Fund
Bank account: 12 3122 0084701 20

Donors wanting a receipt should include their phone number as the payment reference or contact relieffund@waipadc.govt.nz.

The fund has approved donee status with Inland Revenue, which means donations are officially recognised and donors may be able to claim a tax credit.