7732 (2026). Hon Jo Luxton to the Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing

7732 (2026). Hon Jo Luxton to the Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing: What, if any, requests for financial recovery support from community organisations and trusts have been received by the Minister or his agencies following the medium scale adverse events in Gisborne/Tairāwhiti, Bay of Plenty, and Canterbury?

Hon Chris Penk: In my capacity as Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing I have been advised by my officials that the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment received a request on 13 February 2026 from the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce. A wide range of government agencies are involved with the recovery efforts, such as the Ministry for Primary Industries supporting growers and farmers through Rural Support Trusts, Te Puni Kōkiri supporting marae to strengthen resilience and emergency preparedness for community responses to future events, and the Ministry for the Environment helping local authorities clear emergency waste. The Government also provided $1.2 million to Mayoral Relief Funds to help local communities to support individuals, families, community organisations and marae after an emergency.