11. JOHN CARTER (National—Northland) Link to this
to the Minister of Civil Defence
What response, if any, has the Government made to last week’s flood damage in Northland?
Hon RICK BARKER (Minister of Civil Defence) Link to this
Firstly, the three Northland councils did not declare a civil defence emergency, because they had good plans and excellent systems, and they were on top of their job. The local civil defence emergency management staff should feel well satisfied with the management of this event. In such cases it is the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management that undertakes a monitoring role, and, when asked, it will provide whatever support is necessary to respond. When my colleague Dover Samuels and I surveyed the damage in Northland on Saturday, we advised that the Government would pay in full any council costs associated with the housing and moving of people displaced by the flood. As well as this, the Ministry of Social Development offices were open on Saturday and Sunday, and an 0800 Government helpline number was activated. Further, the Government will assist substantially with any road repairs.
Does the Minister stand by his promise on Radio New Zealand National yesterday that “Transit will pay the full cost of restoring each road in full—no question about that.”?
I did not make such a blunt statement. What I did say was that the Government will fund substantially the costs associated with it. In the far north the Government is committed to paying 56 percent of the total cost, and 52 percent for Whangarei. That is over half of the costs. The mayors have already asked me whether we would contribute more than that, and I have said that once the exact costs are known, then they can put their requests to the Government and they will be considered.
H V Ross Robertson Link to this
What has the Minister done in his role as Minister of Civil Defence to ensure that people are better prepared to cope with civil defence emergencies?
Last year I implemented two public education programmes—one in schools, called What’s the Plan Stan?, and the other was a broader public education programme called Get Ready Get Thru. Initial results show that three-quarters of New Zealanders have done something to better prepare for the event of a disaster. These initial results are heartening, but we have a long way to go. But people are better prepared, and better preparation leads to fewer losses. This directly contradicts Mr Carter’s comments in June last year, when he said that to spend money on a public education programme was “a farce and a disgrace”. I doubt that the people of Northland would agree with that statement.
Phil HeatleyDoes the Minister stand by his second promise to the people of Northland on Radio New Zealand National yesterday, when he stated: “Anything to do with public safety we will pay for in full.”?
I do stand by that promise. If any person was required to be evacuated by whatever means and accommodated, the Crown will reimburse in full the costs to that council.
Has the Minister heard from Minister Jim Anderton since he told Mr Anderton over the weekend that his staff needed to look at the issue of suspensory loans in the Hikurangi area again; if so, what was the reply from Mr Anderton?
The member again misquotes me. I never mentioned suspensory loans. What I did say was that I would take the matter up with the Minister. I have done so, and his staff are investigating the matter further.
Does he stand by his fourth and final promise on Radio New Zealand National yesterday that “The Government will make a substantial contribution to this flood without a question of a doubt.”, and does he absolutely guarantee a refund of “all that the council spent on housing and relocating people temporarily”, on “public safety”, and on repairing all roads, not just Transit roads, in Northland?
I repeat my answer further. Where people were dislocated by the floods, and the council incurred costs, then we will pay the full cost of that. There is no question about that. In terms of repairing the roads, I have already said the Government is committed, and in the case of the far north we will pay 56 percent of the cost, and in the case of Whangarei 52 percent of the cost. That is a substantial contribution. The councils have asked whether we would look at further increasing the taxpayer subsidy, and I have said we would.
I seek leave to table the transcript of all the promises on Radio New Zealand National yesterday.
Madam SPEAKER