Outcomes from the review: the On-farm Adverse Events Recovery Framework
On 23 April 2007 cabinet agreed:
- The existing suite of recovery measures (the small-scale event and medium-scale event recovery measures) should continue to be used in future adverse events; and
- Following a large-scale adverse climatic event or natural disaster, the government does have a role in providing a special recovery measure to primary producers.
Recovery measures for small-scale, medium-scale and large-scale adverse events are as follows:
Recovery measures
Small-scale event recovery measures
The following assistance may be provided by central government following a small-scale adverse climatic event.
| Initial clean-up | ||
|---|---|---|
| Task Force Green | Affected individuals are able to apply for the labour assistance scheme Taskforce Green for initial clean up. This is via the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). | MSD |
| Business assistance | ||
| Late election of provisional tax estimates | Inland Revenue (IRD) accepts late estimates of provisional tax from those significantly affected by an adverse event. | IRD |
| Adverse Events Income Equalisation Scheme | Enables individuals who have money deposited in the income equalisation scheme to make an early withdrawal or deposit funds arising from forced sale of livestock. | IRD |
| Additional flexible tax provisions | IRD can also look at late payment and late filing of tax and tax outstanding. | IRD |
| Individual and family support | ||
| Emergency Unemployment Benefit | This is available for employees for whom work (and income) is not available for a short period. Income and asset tests apply. | MSD |
| Seasonal Work Assistance | This provides financial assistance (up to $680 in a 26 week period) to workers who are unable to work (and lose income), due to poor weather conditions. Income and asset tests apply. | MSD |
| Special Needs Grants, Recoverable Assistance Programme | These are usually to meet a one-off need and are discretionary, based on individual circumstances for example, a food grant. | MSD |
Medium-scale event recovery measures
| Initial clean-up | ||
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced Task Force Green | This is an “enhanced” labour assistance scheme that provides assistance for clean up and repairs. The enhancements may include assistance for personal safety equipment and machinery. | MSD |
| Individual and family support | ||
| Rural Assistance Payments | Payments to families affected by specific events when their farm/orchard business cannot meet essential living needs. These payments are set at 100 percent of the unemployment benefit level. | MSD |
| New Start Grant | A one-off grant for families to permanently leave commercial farming activities where the farm is no longer viable. Strict criteria are needed to be met to qualify. | MAF |
| Psychological and social recovery | Psychological and social support such as counselling can be made available. | MSD |
| Civil Defence Payments | If emergency procedures (e.g. activate operations centre or activate adverse events plan in a non declared event) are activated by Civil Defence, evacuees can receive assistance for food, temporary accommodation, clothing, loss of livelihood. | MSD/ MCDEM |
| Local recovery assistance | ||
| Grants to Rural Support Trusts (RSTs) | Grants to help RSTs provide support such as financial advice and welfare support to primary producers. | MAF |
| Technology Transfer Grants | Grants to provide assistance for education and technical advice on recovery options relating to financial and contingency planning, including animal welfare. The grants can be used for activities including workshops, meetings and brochures. | MAF |
| Agricultural Recovery Facilitator | The government may appoint an Agricultural Recovery Facilitator. The facilitator’s main role is to co-ordinate the response and recovery initiatives. | MAF |
| Volunteer costs | Costs are met for travel and accommodation for volunteers coming from outside the affected region. | MAF |
| Media communications | Costs are met to enable dissemination of key information to the media for publication/broadcast. | MAF |
Special recovery measure (large-scale event only)
A special recovery measure, at the discretion of central government, may be made available in addition to the small-scale and medium-scale recovery measures, following a large-scale adverse event (e.g. 2004 lower North Island floods or 1988 Cyclone Bola).
The special recovery measure would be in the form of a reimbursed cash grant (i.e. damage assessed, cash reimbursement provided once repairs were made). This grant is targeted at commercial entities from agriculture, horticulture and forestry sectors. Financial assistance will also be targeted at property restoration and production restoration (excluding slips) and includes:
- uninsurable infrastructure;
- re-cropping of uninsurable crops;
- re-grassing uninsurable pasture;
- afforestation of uninsurable forestry losses;
- and initial clean up of silt and debris (where uninsurable).
Reimbursement is set at a rate of 50 percent, with an excess of $10,000 or 10 percent of qualifying damage costs (whichever is greater). Total funds provided by the Special Recovery Measure are also capped at $250,000 per farm business.
Contact for Enquiries
Manager
North Island Regions
Sector Performance Policy
MAF Policy
Hamilton
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 7 957 8313
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