The New Zealand government has unveiled a plan to future-proof regions impacted by the extreme weather events earlier this year.
Social development and employment minister Carmel Sepuloni said that the government is introducing a plan to make sure that people’s needs will continue to be met as the country recovers from Cyclone Gabrielle, the Auckland flood, and other severe weather events across the North Island.
“We know that the psychosocial effects of disasters are very real and that most people who go through a disaster or extreme weather event have heightened stress and anxiety,” Sepuloni said in a news release. “On top of the mental health support announced already for affected regions, the government will also provide support for volunteers and community workers suffering burnout, and personalised support and referral pathways for people who own land that has been classified as risk level Category 2 and 3.”
Sepuloni added that the government is also putting further support for students who have missed school so that they can catch up on lost learning, as well as providing education and training for providers to support Kiwis with their anxiety and wellbeing.
The minister said that the government would put in the necessary resources to build the resilience, preparedness, and strength of community and iwi organisations so that they are prepared for future weather events.
“We have learnt lessons following the Canterbury earthquakes, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Buller floods and want to emphasise the importance of work focused on long-term recovery from large scale disasters,” Sepuloni said. “Having a plan is important, because it makes sure we are investing not only in the immediate recovery of these regions, but in the longer-term livelihoods of all those affected as well.”
The recovery plan involves a framework for a coordinated, cross-agency approach to social recovery. Actions cover the next two years and are intended to support regional priorities and the delivery of regional recovery plans.
The government has already secured $30 million through Budget 2023 to support implementation of the recovery plan. This first round of contingency funding – equal to $20.65 million – will support regions and population groups where existing levels of investment are not enough to meet the needs.
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