The Government is providing a $5 million package of emergency support to help businesses significantly affected by the recent flooding in Auckland.
This includes:
- $3 million for flood recovery payments to help significantly affected businesses.
- $1 million for mental wellbeing support through a boost to the First Steps programme.
- $1 million for small business advice focussed on business continuity and resilience.
- Inland Revenue will also waive penalties for late payments for Auckland, Northland, the Bay of Plenty, Thames/Coromandel and Waikato.
This package of support was developed through the government’s engagement of the Tamaki Makaurau business network (which has been in place for the past 3 years) on which the Restaurant Association represents the hospitality industry. We also met with Minister Andersen recently and arranged for her to visit some of our affected members. Your feedback over the past week and a half has been vital in our communications with local and central Government.
The group is finalising the criteria and details for how to apply which will be available in the coming few days. We are advocating to make sure the available funds are made available as soon as possible.
Find out more about the Back to Work grants here.
Find out more about FirstSteps.
The Restaurant Association is strongly recommending that the package be extended to include other severely hit regions such across the North Island. We will keep you updated on this discussion.