MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Lives and livelihoods a priority for recovery

Over 200 people remain unable to return to their homes in Wanganui’s Anzac Parade as agencies make urgent calls for donations to help those affected by flooding.

A number of appeals are currently underway including a Red Cross national appeal, requests for donations to the Wanganui District Council Mayoral Fund and the reactivation of the Manawatu Wanganui Regional Disaster Relief Fund Trust, first established in 2004.

Chairperson the Manawatu Wanganui Regional Disaster Relief Fund Trust, Eric Linklater, said the Trust played a vital role in the 2004 floods helping Councils and relief agencies target funds to where it was most required and wish to assist once more.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Manawatu Wanganui Regional Disaster Relief Fund Trust can do so by depositing funds into the following Westpac bank account – 030-728-0411355-00.

Specific donations for the people in rural and urban areas of Wanganui can be made to the Wanganui Mayoral Fund via Westpac account number 03 0791 0355050 04. People are being asked to leave their contact details and name as the reference details if they wish.

Horizons regional recovery manager Ged Shirley says there are three key elements to current recovery efforts. These priorities are: providing assistance to rural communities, reinstating key infrastructure and utility services and ensuring the welfare of displaced residents.

“The rivers are receding but their impact will be widely felt for a long time yet,” Mr Shirley says.

“An initial impact assessment for the Region is being compiled and is due to Central Government on Friday. Preliminary estimates for restoring the roading network in the Rangitikei District alone are around $20 million.

“At a rural level, a support network is up and running and looking to assist farmers with any immediate needs. The Federated Farmers website www.fedfarm.org.nz is a key resource for rural information and advice.

“The Rural Support Trust is also on hand to assist rural people and their families. The contact number for this trust is 0800 787 254.”

Fonterra and Horizons staff are continuing their visits to affected farmers. If farmers are at all concerned about regulatory issues they are advised to contact Horizons’ rural advice team on toll free number 0508 800 800. Welfare of people and stock remains a top priority.

In the Rangitikei District, rural property owners are being asked to not use flood damaged rural roads for heavy truck haulage, including the movement of stock, until further notice. Authorisation to use the roads in the Rangitikei District for heavy haulage needs to be granted by the Rangitikei District Council.

The boil water notice has now been lifted for Hunterville.

The Manawatu District Council is working to restore potable water to Halcombe and clean-up is underway across all parts of the Region including in Tangimoana and the lower Manawatu area.

A number of roads remain closed, with local authorities and NZTA working as quickly as possible to restore access to isolated communities. The latest information on road closures is available fromwww.nzta.govt.nz and local council websites.

Facebook page www.facebook.com/civildefencemanawatuwanganui is continuing to act as a hub for flood-related information.

ENDS

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