Building Resilience
Summary
The review of the On-farm Adverse Events Recovery Framework is about on-farm recovery assistance after an adverse event. This discussion document examines what assistance the government should provide following an adverse event.
- Adverse events are severe climatic events or natural disasters that are beyond the ability of the community to cope.
- On-farm refers to commercial agriculture, horticulture, viticulture and forestry properties.
- Recovery assistance comprises central government measures additional to any initial response and wider community recovery measures.
Recovery assistance can be split into three groups:
- general recovery measures – measures available for significantly affected producers, even where the scale of the event is fairly small (for example, flexible tax provisions);
- emergency recovery measures – measures available when there is a medium to large-scale event beyond the capacity of a community to cope (for example, Enhanced Task force Green); and
- special recovery measures – options for additional measures following a large-scale event.
In preparing this discussion document, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) has consulted with industry groups and local government. Now we would like to hear your opinions about how the current recovery measures are working, and how these measures could be improved or supplemented by other initiatives. In particular:
- what type of on-farm recovery assistance the Government should provide after a large-scale adverse event; and
- when the Government should provide on-farm recovery assistance (what are the criteria for defining the scale of an adverse event).
For large-scale adverse events, we discuss three options for recovery assistance:
- existing general recovery measures and emergency recovery measures only;
- existing general recovery measures and emergency recovery measures plus,
as a special recovery measure, compulsory insurance in the form of:
- a sector levy; or
- insurance on an individual basis.
- existing general recovery measures and emergency recovery measures plus,
as a special recovery measure, direct business assistance in the form of a:
- general cash grant;
- general concessional loan;
- targeted cash grant; or
- reimbursed cash grant.
Also we propose a new approach to grading adverse events that attempts to be clear, consistent, but also flexible in order to take into account the unique circumstances of each adverse event. This approach would enable the Government to provide assistance in accordance with the impact of the event, whether the event is small-scale, medium-scale or large-scale.
This review of on-farm recovery assistance after an adverse event sits alongside three other projects. Together, these projects look at MAF’s role in response within the wider Civil Defence Emergency Management system, the role of Rural Support Trusts in adverse events, and policy for recovery after a major biosecurity incursion.
A report on the outcome of the consultation, and recommendations on refining the recovery framework, will be submitted to Cabinet by the end of 2006.
Making a submission
The closing date for written submissions on the proposals in this document is 31 October 2006. When preparing your submission, please comment on the options and proposals in this document, as well as drawing on your experience of adverse events. You can use the submission form provided.
You can also provide feedback on this document by attending a public consultation meeting in October.
Contact for Enquiries
email: adverseevents_feedback@maf.govt.nz
phone number: (07) 957 8311
