Call to unlock emergency grants in wake of devastating floods
Wednesday, 22 April 2026
Wellington MPs are calling for the unlocking of an emergency government fund to help people affected by the severe weather – but mayors say now is not the time.
Work and Income can make Civil Defence Payments to people affected by an emergency. For a single person they have a $203 daily maximum for accommodation, but $37 in hosted accommodation. There are payments of up to $400 for food, bedding and clothing or up to $243 a week for people who have lost income and can’t work, rising to $279 for those over 24. Payments increase for couples or people with children.
It is activated after a request from the Wellington Civil Defence Emergency Management Group (WCDEMG) controller. Mayors around the region are part of the group.
But a Ministry of Social Development statement on Wednesday morning said it made the final decision to activate the grants after considering factors including specific circumstances and whether needs could be met with existing supports and services.
WCDEMG spokesperson Dan Neely confirmed that request has not been made.
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“As is normal at this phase of the response, we have prioritised life and safety and councils across the region,” he said. Councils had asked WCDEMG to look at the funding request “at the appropriate time in the response and recovery”, he said.
But Wellington Central MP Tamatha Paul and Rongotai MP Julie Anne Genter are calling for the fund to be urgently requested and activated.
“This is a simple request that we have urged the control room to press play on as we have been in touch with constituents who have lost everything who need urgent financial assistance,” Paul said.
Genter said the current Government loved working under urgency but had an “alarming” lack of urgency here.
'The government doesn't appear to understand that there are people who have been flooded out of their homes who need help now,“ Genter said.
“A week from now isn’t good enough.“
Labour social development spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime said Labour supported people and businesses affected by severe weather and it would be “straightforward for the current Government to follow suit.”
Labour has three Wellington electorate MPs ‒ Greg O’Connor in Ōhāriu, Christopher Hipkins in Remutaka and Barbara Edmonds in Mana. The one Wellington National electorate MP, Chris Bishop in Hutt South, was approached for comment.
In response to a question from Genter in Parliament on Tuesday, Social Development Minister Louise Upston said activating the grants was a decision made by the Ministry of Social Development, local Civil Defence and communities.
Wellington mayor Andrew Little had officials passing on the message that the grants should be looked at, “at the appropriate time of the recovery”. Hutt City mayor Ken Laban said his council was still responding to the emergency but the issue could be revisited later. Porirua mayor Anita Baker said she was unaware of the potential funding until Tuesday but the need was not yet high enough in her area.
The Wellington region is now out of the worst of a spate of torrential rain that saw flooding in Porirua and Stokes Valley on Saturday, then Wellington City on Monday. Numerous houses were flooded, one over head height, and a seven-day regional state of emergency was declared from Monday.
The State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill Rd was closed on Tuesday due to a flood-damaged bridge and harbour ferries were cancelled. Various other roads were closed due to slips and nearly all Wellington City Council facilities were closed.
Philip Sutton, in his 60s, remained missing on Tuesday night from Karori in what police are treating as a weather-related event.