A year on from Cyclone Gabrielle and the New Zealand Red Cross says all funds from the New Zealand Disaster Fund has been allocated across affected areas.
Including interest earned, a total of $28.5 million has been committed to programmes supporting whānau, families and communities to recover and to prepare for the next emergency.
One-million dollars was spent during the early emergency response, $15 million has been distributed in grants to community organisations, $6 million has been committed to support households through NZ Red Cross’ Home Bundles programme and $6.5 million has been committed to building community resilience.
New Zealand Red Cross Secretary General Sarah Stuart-Black said the work over the past year has not always been easy, or straightforward.
“We focused on finding the gaps, the most vulnerable, and then working with the community organisations, iwi, hapū and local councils best placed to meet their needs. Along the way, we listened and adapted our plans to ensure funds were spent where and when they would do the most good.
