Ngā mihi e te whānau,
E tūmanako nui ana e haumaru ana te noho a te katoa. E tuku whakamoemiti ana kia tuwhera mai a Tamanui te Rā, kia whitia anō tātou e ngā hihi o te ora.
We hope everyone affected by the past week's weather events has managed to stay safe and warm. Following on from yesterday’s messaging, we have created a page to act as a one-stop resource for everything related to the storm and flooding. You can also find our previous media releases on our website here, and all the latest below.
What You Need to Know
• Te Tai Tokerau’s state of emergency was lifted this morning – more here.
• Applications for the Auckland Council Emergency Relief Fund can now be made online.
• Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga (Ministry of Education) confirmed schools in Tāmaki Makaurau can reopen from tomorrow (Thursday 2 February) – more here.
• Despite MetService lifting the "red" heavy rain warning for Tāmaki Makaurau, it is still under a state of emergency.
• A "red" heavy rain warning is in place for the Coromandel Peninsula and Te Moana-a-Toi (Bay of Plenty) west of Kawerau - including Tauranga and Rotorua. All the weather warnings can be viewed here.
• Four new Information Hubs have been set up in Tāmaki Makaurau to offer support to those affected by the flooding, including accommodation if needed.
Assistance Available
For those in need of urgent help or emergency accommodation, please ring:
Te Tai Tokerau (0800 00 20 04), Tāmaki Makaurau (0800 22 22 00), Waikato (0800 932 4357).
There are also community support lines for those in Tāmaki Makaurau:
• Te Whanau o Waipareira – 800 92 49 42
• Manukau Urban Māori Authority – 0800 686 232
• Manurewa Marae – 029 200 55 40
• Papakura Marae – (09) 297 20 36
• Ruapotaka Marae – 027 290 87 71
• Huakina Trust – (09) 238 02 50
Civil Defence
Civil Defence Centres have been set up across Tāmaki Makaurau to support those who need to evacuate and can’t stay with friends or whānau. Their locations are:
North: Massey University Albany Campus - Sir Neil Waters Theatre, Gate 1/Main Entrance (off Albany Expressway), Albany.
West: Saint Leonard's Road School - 15 St. Leonard's Road, Kelston.
South: Manu Tukutuku - 32 Riverton Drive, Randwick Park.
Information Hubs have also been set up to offer support, including accommodation if needed. Their locations are:
• Te Manawa - Westgate, 11 Kohuhu Lane
• New Lynn Community Centre - 45 Totara Avenue, New Lynn
• Fickling Convention Centre - 546 Mount Albert Road, Three Kings
• Birkenhead Leisure Centre - 46 Mahara Avenue, Birkenhead
• Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Pool and Leisure Centre - Mascot Ave, Mangere
Severe Weather Warnings
The Coromandel Peninsula along with the Te Moana-a-Toi west of Kawerau - including Tauranga and Rotorua - are under an active "red" heavy rain warning. For more on "red" and "orange" weather warnings and their differences, check out this link.
Road Closures
There are several road closures and slips throughout the mid and upper Te Ika-a-Māui. Authorities are urging people to stay home and only travel if necessary.
For our whānau in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland Transport is continuously updating their website with all of the road closures and reopening - link here.
Te Tai Tokerau residents are being advised by the Northland Regional Council to monitor their District Councils' Facebook pages - link to them all here.
Those based in other rohe are best to monitor Waka Kotahi's website before venturing out - link here.
Financial Support
Immediate financial support is available for those affected by the flooding:
Auckland Council is now accepting applications for their Emergency Relief Fund. The process is done online, and help is available from Auckland Council (09 301 0101) during business hours for assistance with the form.
Inland Revenue (IRD) has announced they’re prioritising their support for business owners affected by the severe weather and floods. Those who are ready and need help keeping up with their tax obligations, which includes GST, employer filing and tax payments due on Monday 7 February, are being advised to call IRD’s disaster line (0800 473 566) or send them a message in myIR.
Please be aware that penalties and interest on missed obligations will still apply unless IRD has notified you they will be waived. Further information on the waiving of penalties and other matters, such as reductions on provisional tax for lost income, can be found here.
Civil Defence payments are available by calling Work and Income (0800 400 100) and making an application - more detail here.
New Zealand’s five major banks are offering financial support to personal and business customers affected by flooding. Their details are on our resource page.
Other Useful Sites and Resources
• Auckland Emergency Management
• NZ Insurance Council advice on insurance claims
We will continue to update our Facebook page and story with the latest information pertaining to the weather events - kia kaha.
