Photo Credit: HB Civil Defence
HB Cyclone Relief Fund
Photo Credit: Wairoa District Council
Photo Credit: Angus Dreaver
Photo Credit: Stuff
Photo Credit: Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence
Photo Credit: Paul Taylor
The widespread devastation and heartache caused by Cyclone Gabrielle has left the region of Hawke’s Bay, its communities and residents completely ravaged, some beyond repair.
To help support the region’s unprecedented relief effort, Hawke’s Bay Foundation set up a special ‘HB Cyclone Relief Fund’ to funnel donations direct to overwhelmed welfare agencies on the ground, that need it most.
For charitable organisations wishing to apply for funding through our Cyclone Relief Fund please complete the application form.
Please note our fund supports welfare agencies not individual applications.
If you’re a business or individual who can donate to this critical fund to help those worst affected, please donate through the donate button below.
Details on where the funds have been distributed to so far, can be found on this page.
DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS TO CHARITIES TO DATE
Hawke’s Bay Foundation’s Cyclone Relief Fund was launched under urgency in the days following the devastation that Cyclone Gabrielle unleashed on the region. Within one week of donations streaming in, Hawke’s Bay Foundation’s specialist Distributions Committee approved and mobilised (under full consensus), the first round of funds to frontline charities on a ‘greatest needs’ basis. We have now supported over 55 charitable organisations working in the cyclone response space.
Below is a list of the charities to receive funding so far.
We have also pledged $100,000 to assist with psychological support during the recovery with the Rural Support Trust identified as a key recipient of this funding.
Nourished for Nil
Re-Source
The Environment Centre
Te Roopu a Iwi Trust
Multicultural Association HB
DOVE Hawke’s Bay
Omāhu Marae
Waipatu Marae
Hinemihi Marae
Hohepa
Age Concern Wairoa
Engage Community Trust
Radio Hawke’s Bay
Buzzy Bee Trust
Heretaunga Women’s Centre
Porangahau Country Club
Tangoio Marae
Kereru School
Nuhaka School
Mates 4 Life
Te Mata Park Trust
Napier Family Centre
Ngati Kere Hapu Authority (Porangahou)
Puketapu Parent League
Christian Lovelink
Tatau Tatau o Te Wairoa
Volunteering Hawke’s Bay
Gurundwaa Sahib Temple Hastings
Sri Guru Ravidas Sikh Temple
Turning Point Church
Waiohiki Marae
Waiohiki Creative Arts Village
Punanga Te Wao Kōhanga Reo
Jammies 4 June
Eskdale School
Hukarere Girls College
Omahu School
Pakowhai School
Puketapu School
Irongate School
Hastings and Napier Women’s Refuge
Hawke’s Bay Land Search & Rescue (Land SAR)
Taradale Anglican Church
Tapuae Sports Club
Mataweka Marae Waipawa
Graeme Dingle Foundation HB
EPIC Ministries
CONNECT Youth & Community Trust
Wairoa Agricultural & Pastoral Society
To Mata Hou O Takitimu Trust
Ngā Toi Hawke’s Bay Charitable Trust
Bay View Community Charitable Trust
One Voice Community Services
Surf Lifesaving HB SARS
Taihoa Marae
Whetu Marmama Marae
Twyford School
Tutira School
The first response stage of our distribution of funds was focused on supporting the urgent needs of charitable organisations working in the cyclone response space.
We now move into the second recovery stage of our distributions where we are working collaboratively on strategic initiatives to support Hawke’s Bay on the road to recovery.
FIRST INITIATIVE – SILT REMOVAL
We are working with Evergreen Foundation to support silt clearance from residential and community spaces. Funds have been distributed for machinery and fuel to support the “Hawke’s Bay Clean-Up crew” who provide co-ordinated assistance of silt removal across Hawke’s Bay. They also remove gib board and spray timber framing on houses to prevent further decay and fungi occurring later in the homes.
Our Executive Officer’s experience with Cyclone Gabrielle
LISTEN to Amy Bowkett chat to Justin Rae at The Breeze about her experience with Cyclone Gabrielle and how to donate
READ about how Amy Bowkett got back to work amidst the devastation of losing her house in the floods
FEEDBACK FROM SUPPORTED LOCAL CHARITIES
“Thank you so much for getting in contact and your generous and most welcome support. The timing is remarkable. I just had a meeting with the racecourse manager about the prospect of staying here for another 2-3 weeks. We need to make a substantial donation to the racecourse… This will mean our stay here has been close to cost neutral to them. We absolutely must retain this space to complete this urgent work. This email has us sagging with relief. With sincere gratitude for coming to the rescue.”
Re-Source
“Thank you so much for the swift actioning of the Cyclone Relief fund and the distribution of the initial funds. Our team is working very hard at the moment to get the much needed food parcels out to the community and we are having to buy in food, as there is not nearly enough rescued food and donated food available at this stage. Please extend our gratitude and best wishes to your team from our team. It’s heartwarming to see how the community is coming together in this difficult time to help those who need it most.”
Nourished for Nil
“We are in the community cyclone response for the long term. Within our strategic plan we are focused on building climate resilient communities, food resilience, water security, environment restoration and climate action. We have over 200 volunteers now that are focused on emergency response across the whole region. The funds will be used to help us fund a second vehicle to get out into remote locations. We appreciate Hawke’s Bay Foundation support and generosity.“
The Environment Centre
“Almost a third of our townspeople were yellow stickered and had to move. The $20,000 in Hawke’s Bay Foundation Cyclone Relief assistance has been the single biggest donation Ngati Kere Hapu has received and for that we are extremely grateful.”
Ngati Kere Hapu Authority
“The most vulnerable, rural Māori communities in Wairoa are compromised by transport, infrastructure, flood damage as well as poverty. Funding from Hawke’s Bay Foundation will help us assist them by buying food, helping whanau clean up and dry their homes and buy furniture for whanau who have decided to move back into homes that are still wet and muddy. Our thanks to Hawke’s Bay Foundation for the tautoko.”
Tatau Tatau o te Wairoa
“A massive shout out and thank you to Hawke’s Bay Foundation for supporting our Puketapu Community by donating to our Fund. This is going to allow us to help all those in our community that have been directly affected get back on their feet. LOVE your work and all the support you offer our beautiful Region.”
Puketapu Parents League
CYCLONE NEWS UPDATES
View our latest news updates related to Cyclone Gabrielle on our NEWS PAGE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FROM OUR DONORS
Who makes the decisions around where the Cyclone Relief Fund donations are distributed?
Hawke’s Bay Foundation has an expert Distributions Committee made up of diverse community members with deep community links. This committee considers all distributions from the Cyclone Relief Fund based on greatest need and decisions are made by consensus. Meeting under urgency, the committee has made several distributions already with clear processes and approval mechanisms in place.
How are you prioritising which charities receive the funding?
In the first phase we are prioritising key charities supporting the welfare response where there are likely to be gaps in government funding e.g. food supplies are available but the petrol and transport costs to move the supplies around require additional support. We are linking to the charitable sector to identify and respond quickly using due diligence to ensure that funds are utilised for the intended purpose and are for charitable purposes.
How soon will donations be distributed?
We have already distributed funds to charities with an urgent need in response to the cyclone. 100% of donations made to the Cyclone Relief Fund will be distributed to the Hawke’s Bay community within 12 months or sooner. Where it is practical, we will align our funding with grants made by other funders to avoid duplication or to make a greater impact.
Which charities are eligible for Hawke’s Bay Foundation’s Cyclone Relief Fund support?
We are considering equity within all of our distribution decisions understanding that limited resources must be focussed where there is the greatest need. This will include working with organisations that may not in the past have applied to or been recipients of Hawke’s Bay Foundation funding.
How are you recognising the needs for mental health support through the Fund?
We recognise that the recovery period will take a substantial amount of time and that psychological support particularly for rural and isolated communities will be an issue. We are working with other funders to ensure resources are available for this purpose in the coming months.
Can donations be targeted or specified by the donor?
We have been approached by donors with specific donations for specific charities and are ensuring that these funds are distributed according to the donor’s wishes.
Hawke’s Bay Foundation continues to operate its Annual Funding Round and distribution process to sustain the funding streams of local and vetted charities through its endowment fund. This is to futureproof Hawke’s Bay and build resilience in our communities, not just in times of crisis, but for generations to come.