The Breeze Hawkes Bay is the Civil Defence radio station on 1368AM.
Personal Assistance Available
Civil Defence Payment. If you have been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle you may be eligible for a Civil Defence payment. There are conditions that you must meet to qualify. You can apply online if you have a MSD client number otherwise call 0800 400 100 between 7am and 5pm. You will need to be patient as there will be a large number of people looking for help.
The Civil Defence website has some general guidance of services available.
- https://www.civildefence.govt.nz/resources/news-and-events/news-and-events/cyclone-gabrielle-february-2023/
Hastings District Council and Napier City Council. The councils have published some advice for those of you who unfortunately need to clean your property or business premises.
1737. For anyone who is anxious the 1737 line is available 24 hours. Text 1737 and you will be able to talk or text with a trained counsellor or peer support person.
Tihei Mauri Ora. This is a non-emergency telephone triage line that can help link you with the information and support you or your whanau needs. This is a free service and available 7 days from 9am to 4pm. Call 0800 211 024.
Business Support Available
Inland Revenue Department. I am trying to get the IRD to just place this automatically across you all to save everyone being applied for separately.
As a result of the flooding the IRD understand that paying and filing tax returns may not be your top priority at the moment. If you cannot meet your tax obligations in the next few weeks or months we do need to let the IRD know. You can do this via your myIR and include the word ‘flood’ in your subject line. If you cannot do it please contact us and we can sort on your behalf. There is no rush to notify the IRD right now.
For those of you whose 2022 tax returns have not yet been completed for one reason or another I am applying for a further extension on your behalf.
Employers. If you need to pay staff and have limited internet access to your payroll software please feel free to contact Barbette or myself to help you out with the paperwork. Sorry, no we cannot pay your staff for you.
Xero Assistance Programme (XAP). Xero have XAP for any small business owner, employee or their families to access. XAP gives three confidential and free telephone, live chat, online or face-to-face counselling sessions through until 31 March 2023.
https://www.xero.com/nz/xero-assistance-programme/ or email xap@xero.com to get access.
Speak with your banks and finance lenders to see if they can help out with loan payment holidays, extended overdrafts.
Speak with your insurance broker to see what cover you have and what you can access.