New disaster policy stresses self-reliance

The expectation that every flood-hit farmer deserves a handout is challenged in a new draft policy for handling natural disasters.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is seeking public input on the policy framework, released yesterday after two months' consultation with local government and industry groups.

The review follows the confusion arising from the Government's varying assistance for victims of the 2004 Manawatu floods and the Gisborne floods last October.

Help given after the floods in the Manawatu and Bay of Plenty last year had raised expectations that the Government would assist with less serious events, said Phil Journeaux, the ministry's North Island policy manager.

The framework removed expectations that the Government would step in every time a natural disaster struck.

"The intention for many years is to look at the impact on the wider community. You may have one or two farms very badly impacted, but the Government is not the insurer of last resort.

"If a home burns down and you don't have insurance, the Government won't rebuild it for you."

The framework includes a Matrix of Government Response, which looks at the level of impact, how widespread it is and whether the event was likely or avoidable.

"There will always be grey areas, such as the boundary between small-scale events and medium, for example, but we're trying to add more certainty to the rules while keeping them flexible."

Mr Journeaux said the decision to intervene would be based on matrix criteria as well as consultation with the parties involved.

The framework also stresses the responsibility of landowners to be prepared for natural disasters.

Mr Journeaux invited all parties with an interest to attend public meetings, which start in Whangarei on October 9 and finish in Invercargill on October 19.

Written submissions are due by the end of October, and it is hoped the document will be presented to the Cabinet in December.