Throughout February and March, Tararua District Mayor Tracey Collis, Councillors, the Recovery team, and Tararua District Council Emergency Management Officer Peter Sinclair, have been checking in with, and delivering goods to the eight identified cyclone impacted communities as part of the Ministry for Primary Industries supported Community Emergency Hub Fund project.

In October 2023, the Tararua District secured $250,000 from the $35.4 million MPI package announced, to support the recovery of rural communities affected by the North Island weather events.

Weber, Herbertville, Akitio, Te Uri, Pongaroa, Kumeroa, Alfredton and Makuri all received deliveries of gear and essential items that will assist them, if necessary, in being self-sufficient for a short period of time during an emergency or future adverse weather events.

Items such as generators, resilience boxes, chainsaws and training, detailed maps and community building upgrades have all been undertaken and distributed to Civil Defense groups in each of the communities.

In most cases, items and services have been purchased locally making this project a win win for our communities and local business.

To complete this project, members of each of the cyclone impacted communities will receive training in First Aid which is planned for May. This training is being supported by both the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Ministry of Social Development.

We want to extend out thanks to the communities and people who have made their time available to be involved in this process. A special thank you also to Ngāti Kahungunu ki Tāmakinui-a-Rua for providing first aid kits, Dannevirke Honda and Stihl for generously donating chainsaws, the Ministry for Social Development for contributing to the planned First Aid courses, and especially the Ministry for Primary Industries for their funding of this initiative.