On May 14, 2023, Reuters reported that the New Zealand government has pledged NZ$1.1 billion ($720 million) to aid communities affected by the cyclone and floods

that ravaged the country earlier this year. The funds will be allocated from the 2023 budget and will be used to rebuild roads, rail, and schools, as well as to provide flood protection.

The North Island was hit hard by Cyclone Gabrielle in February, which claimed the lives of 11 people. In January, flash floods resulting from record-breaking rainfall affected Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The government has estimated the total cost of the natural disasters at up to NZ$14.5 billion, making it the country's most expensive disaster after the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes that devastated Christchurch.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins stated that the recovery package aims to address immediate recovery needs while also investing in greater resilience for the future. He emphasized that the funds would be used to restore roads, rail, and schools to their pre-disaster conditions, allowing communities to resume normal life as soon as possible.

The government has confirmed that despite the cost of the disasters, no major new taxes will be introduced to fund recovery efforts in this year's budget, which will be presented on Thursday. The funding will also be utilized for child mental health support in the Hawkes Bay and Tairawhiti regions, jobs training, and flood protection.

Insurance companies have reported receiving approximately 40,000 claims worth around NZ$890 million for damages caused by Cyclone Gabrielle. The allocation of funds is expected to help communities recover and rebuild in the aftermath of the natural disasters. Photo by Σ64, Wikimedia commons.