More than $170,000 has now been paid to a total of 19 applicants through the Wairarapa Mayoral Relief Fund set up to help those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.

The money has gone to help around 30 adults and 25 children, plus one organisation providing community support.

Applications to the fund will close at 5pm on Friday 21 April, as will applications for the Ministry of Business, Employment and Innovation (MBIE) Business Support funding for businesses affected by the cyclone.

Decisions on applications for Business Support funding will be made after the closure of applications.

All applications are considered by the Wairarapa Recovery Governance Group, which includes all three Wairarapa mayors.

Governance Group chair Masterton Mayor Gary Caffell urged anyone in need to apply now.

“The Relief Fund is finite, but I would urge anyone with a genuine need to apply now,” he said.

“Our community has been very generous in building up the Mayoral Relief Fund, as have our friends in Ashburton District, who contributed $17,000.

“It’s great to see money going to where it is needed.”

Priority for support is being given to:

• provision of essentials for daily life, transport needs and household contents
• rebuild/recovery costs of buildings damaged by water or storm damage
• essential items not covered by insurance or other funds.

The purpose of the Business Recovery Grants programme is to support viable businesses in Wairarapa significantly impacted as a direct result of Cyclone Gabrielle, to assist with specific business needs.

The $250,000 funding available through Wairarapa Recovery is to address cyclone-impacted businesses’ immediate cash-flow needs, with a secondary objective of positioning businesses for a successful recovery.

Applications for both forms of financial support can be made through the Wairarapa Recovery website – www.wairaraparecovery.nz – with hard copy application forms available at council offices and libraries throughout Wairarapa.