Expat NZers to get emergency flood payments

CANBERRA - Fears that New Zealanders who lost everything in the Queensland floods would be excluded from aid have been eased by confirmation of emergency payments.

The transtasman social welfare arrangements that came into force in 2001 blocked Kiwis who arrived later and did not gain residency status from federal disaster funds and a range of government benefits.

Their exclusion from Commonwealth disaster relief payments - A$1000 ($1300) for each adult and A$400 a child - alarmed hundreds of New Zealanders affected by last week's catastrophe.

Queensland is home to Australia's largest expatriate Kiwi community - almost 40 per cent of the 530,000 New Zealanders living across the Tasman are in the state.

Many are reluctant to formalise life across the Tasman - less than 40 per cent of expats become citizens.

Although no accurate figures are available, government, Red Cross and Lifeline staff at evacuation centres told Queensland Maori Organisation Te Korowai Aroha secretary Christel Broederlow that hundreds of New Zealanders had sought shelter.

Te Korowai Aroha is trying to help more than 100 victims, and has organised an internet appeal for donations and benefit concerts by New Zealand entertainers in Brisbane, Gold Coast and Melbourne.

It will split the proceeds of its Waitangi Day celebration - attended by 15,000 people last year - between distressed Kiwis and Queensland's flood appeal.

Ms Broederlow said one extended family of 25 members was now living in a single house after the Ipswich flood.

The family had been given 10 minutes' warning by police. "They've lost everything," Ms Broederlow said.

She said the ruling that New Zealanders who arrived after February 2001 and had not gained residency could not gain federal relief payments had shocked even long-term expatriates who were familiar with other benefit restrictions.

Kiwis who were in Australia on February 26, 2001, lived there for 12 months during the two years immediately before the cutoff date, or who otherwise qualify are regarded as residents under social security rules. They are eligible for the federal disaster relief payment.

Efforts by Foreign Minister Murray McCully to convince Australia to relent and extend the payments to non-resident Kiwis have hit a brick wall.

An official said yesterday the High Commission would continue to press for the move, but it was a complex issue that may not be resolved quickly.

But the Australian Centrelink agency, responsible for social security payments, said yesterday that non-resident New Zealanders could qualify for federal disaster income recovery subsidies.

These included fortnightly payments of A$469.70 for singles, A$424 each for couples, and A$388.70 for those under 21.

Mr McCully's spokesperson said non-resident Kiwis were also eligible for aid from the Queensland relief fund, and state Government personal hardship, essential household contents, and structural assistance grants.