Government contributions to Relief Funds

Learn about how local authorities and Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Groups can get Government contribution to Relief Funds.

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Mayoral or Disaster Relief Fund

Local authorities / CDEM Groups administer Relief Funds. These are also known as a Disaster Relief Funds. Disaster Relief Funds often contribute to a Mayoral Relief Fund. Local authorities administer Mayoral Relief Funds.

The Government can donate to a Relief Fund to help communities recover from emergencies. Relief Funds don't replace other Government help.

Decision for Government contribution

Government contributions recognise local authorities’ responsibilities to support communities recovering from emergencies. Contribution decisions are based on the scale of an event and community needs.

Local authorities / CDEM Groups can ask the Government to consider a contribution. But the decision sits with the Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery or Government.

The Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery can  authorise up to $100,000 per event. This is decided with the Prime Minster and Minister of Finance. Government contributions above $100,000 need Cabinet approval. All contribution announcements are GST exclusive.

Receiving Government contribution

  1. The Director Civil Defence Emergency Management sends a letter to the local authority / CDEM Group. This outlines the contribution amount and instructions on how to receive funds.
  2. The local authority / CDEM Group submits a tax invoice to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC). This is for the contribution amount, plus GST.
  3. The local authority / CDEM Group sets up a Relief Fund. They then publicise this and create a committee to oversee spending.
  4. DPMC pays the local authority / CDEM Group. This needs authorisation from joint Ministers or Cabinet (depending onvalue) and a tax invoice.

Relief Fund criteria

Local authorities and CDEM Groups know what they need and set their own criteria to spend funds.  The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) does not set criteria for Relief Funds . Except for what is stated in this factsheet.

The funds can be used to support the immediate needs of affected:

  • individuals,
  • families,
  • community organisations, and
  • marae.

Examples of spending

Government contribution to Relief Funds can be used to:

  • deal with septic tank overflow,
  • fill water tanks,
  • clear debris from properties,
  • support individuals/families faced with hardships because of an emergency,
  • koha to a team or individual who assist in clean up at their expense,provide refreshments for organisations/people who help with clean up,
  • replace items that cannot be insured by people, and
  • help people with basic needs if the individual/family cannot buy their own insurance cover.

Government contributions to Relief Funds cannot:

  • finance a local authority’s administrative or business costs, or
  • replace other existing funding sources. [1]

Factsheets for existing funding sources are also available.

Local authorities who receive Government funding must report on their Relief Fund spending

This lets NEMA meet its obligations to taxpayer funding and understand local authorities’ needs after an emergency. Local authorities must:

  • report back on their expenditure within six months of receiving the fund (any unspent monies must be returned to the Crown),
  • provide a high-level report outlining how funds were spent and the rationale, and
  • engage with NEMA if there are any unspent monies six months after receiving the fund.

For more information see the National Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan 2015

Section 33.5.2 of the Guide to the National Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan 2015 outlines expectations for how fund administrators may disburse Government contributions to Relief Funds. The Government expects that administrators will not only address the needs of affected individuals and families but also those of community organisations and marae and their associated facilities and infrastructure.

 

[1] https://www.civildefence.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/publications/Claims-factsheets/Factsheet-response-other-response-and-recovery.pdf