February 27, 2023
Clean up putea now on tap
Growers in areas affected by Cyclone Gabrielle will be able to get $2,000 per hectare up to a maximum of $40,000 to remove silt from trees and vines, support the clean-up, and minimise tree and vine losses.
Pastoral and arable farmers can get up to $10,000 to help initial recovery on-farm, such as repairs to stock-water infrastructure for stock and fencing.
The grants come from a $25 million package to kick-start recovery efforts for farmers, growers, whenua Māori owners, and rural communities.
Cyclone Recovery Minister Grant Robertson says it’s what farmers and growers have been calling for, and it’s just a start.
Primary Industries Minister Damien O’Connor says the initial focus will be on the hardest hit areas such as Hawke’s Bay, where key primary sector infrastructure, along with crops, vines and pastures were knocked out by the cyclone.
He says getting a grant will be a simple process, and an independent panel of appointed primary sector experts will help monitor the funding to ensure it is going towards appropriate uses.
Details on how to apply for the grants will be available on the MPI website from this afternoon.