Applications for the Mayoral Relief Fund have now closed.

At the 15 December 2022 Council meeting, Nelson City Council is proposing to approve:

unbudgeted expenditure of $50,000 in the 2022/23 financial year for a Council contribution to the Mayoral Relief Fund to provide financial assistance for impacted residents;

The report can be read here.


Information for potential applicants: Who can apply?

The fund is open to Nelson City and Tasman District residents, ratepayers or business owners, and not-for-profit organisations who have suffered financial hardship because of the flood event that began on 17 August 2022.

Priority will be given to those who were a permanent resident (owner/occupier or occupier), ratepayer, or owner of a business located in Nelson/Tasman at the time of the August 2022 weather event.

What you will need for your application:

  1. ID, for example your driver’s licence.
  2. Current bank statement with your name on it OR a bank deposit slip
  3. Proof of address (if not on bank statement) for example electricity bill, rates invoice etc.
  4. Copy of your recent pay slip (if you are employed).
  5. IRD number or NZ Business number (certificate of incorporation if an incorporated society)

Please apply even if you are not sure you have everything listed attached to your application. Applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Why you might apply:

If you (or someone you know) are experiencing financial hardship due to the August 2022 severe weather event/flooding, you can apply for money from this fund.

Financial hardship is different for everyone.

What it may look like:

  • Difficulty paying for your essential living costs (such as food, medication, accommodation)
  • Difficulty paying for additional costs that may not be paid for by your insurer (for example clean up, disposal of goods).

Note: these are examples and not a full list of what the fund could be used for.

Why you may NOT be eligible:

If you are receiving funding assistance from any other source/government organisation for the same item/s, you may not be eligible for the fund.

How the fund can help you:

The fund can help pay for:

  • Essential items/essentials of daily life (e.g. food, accommodation, utilities) not covered by insurance or other funds (such as WINZ, EQC);
  • Extra financial burden (including significant loss of income), costs due to the August 2022 flood event not covered by insurance or other funds; and
  • Family or personal crises, support for which is not covered by insurance, another agency or fund (such as MSD);

The aim is these grants go some way towards helping alleviate the emotional and financial stress experienced by individuals and families due to the August 2022 flood event.

The fund provides assistance on a one-off basis for extraordinary circumstances, where real need can be shown.

The fund is a last resort measure when people have exhausted other appropriate sources such as Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ), the Rural Support Trust, EQC, and other government agencies.

Information for businesses

If your business has:

  • Suffered a significant drop in income caused directly by the August 2022 weather event,
  • Was viable before the event and can recover successfully,
  • Is the primary source of income to the business owner,
  • Pays staff or yourself a wage, and
  • The business is located in, or provides services in, the Nelson Tasman region.

Priority will be given to provision of:

  • Essential items/essentials of daily life (e.g. food, accommodation, utilities) not covered by insurance or other funds (such as WINZ, EQC);
  • Extra financial burden (including significant loss of income), costs due to the August 2022 flood event not covered by insurance or other funds; and
  • Family or personal crises, support for which is not covered by insurance, another agency or fund (such as MSD).

The aim is that these grants go some way towards helping alleviate the emotional and financial stress experienced by individuals and families due to the August 2022 flood event.

How to donate

If you would like to donate to the Nelson-Tasman Mayoral Relief Fund please deposit funds into the Nelson City Council bank account:

03 0703 0325055 00

Please use the reference “Mayoral Relief Fund”.

Any donations will be eligible for a donation tax credit.

If you are asked to select an NCC account, select the Debtors account. This will allow you to edit the first and third reference boxes, as shown below.

(Your name) | Debtors | relief fund