Message from

the Chief Executive

Kia ora koutou,

Our thoughts are with our communities that have been impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle. The Cyclone, in addition to the recent floods across Auckland and Northland, has been very distressing. Cyclone Gabrielle has been destructive in both scale and impact.

On Tuesday 14 February, the New Zealand Government declared a National State of Emergency, to assist in the response to Cyclone Gabrielle. This National State of Emergency allows the government to send resources and personnel to the areas where they are most needed.

While the Cyclone has now moved away from Aotearoa, we know impacts are being felt strongly in many areas and across some of our communities and will be for some time.

Now, the focus is on supporting our affected communities across the North Island, particularly those who have been isolated and cut off from supplies and support. We know that it will take some time to deal with the aftermath.

I want to extend my sincere thanks to some of our ethnic service providers and community groups, who have set up in churches, mosques, schools, and halls to help people who have been affected. It has been heart-warming to see the amount of aroha and support people have shown each other.

I am delighted to share that on Monday, 13 February, the Government announced an $11.5 million Community Support Package to help those affected by the recent North Island floods.

Community groups and contracted social sector providers of food and other supports, including services for ethnic communities, have mobilised quickly to support people, whānau and communities affected by the recent North Island floods and Cyclone Gabrielle. However, there is more funding required given the magnitude of the work involved.

This Community Support Package aims to relieve some of this pressure so community groups and providers can continue to deliver their response and recovery efforts for people, whānau and communities. Funding through this Community Support Package is time-limited until 30 June 2023, further details are listed below.

Below is some important information about finding missing people and pets, and government agencies and ethnic service providers working on the response. We hope you find the following information useful.

Keep an eye on our website and social media channels for further updates. If you need clarification or support, please do not hesitate to reach out to your contact at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities.

Stay safe! Kia noho haumaru!

What you need to know (community and language support)

Guidance to what and where support is available

Find information about what support is available and where you can get help in different languages: Cyclone Gabrielle - What support is available and where can you get help » National Emergency Management Agency (civildefence.govt.nz)

Civil Defence groups and emergency shelters

Find your local Civil Defence group, including what emergency shelters may be open: https://www.civildefence.govt.nz/find-your-civil-defence-group/

Financial assistance

Work and Income may be able to help with some costs. Visit www.workandincome.govt.nz/eligibility/urgent-costs/index.html for more information or call 0800 400 100 between 8.00am – 5.00pm.

Language assistance

Find out more about how to ask for an interpreter if you are calling a government agency and need language assistance: Information in languages other than English | Ministry for Ethnic Communities.

Finding missing people and pets

Many people remain unaccounted for after Cyclone Gabrielle swept through the North Island.

People looking for friends and family can log a request via this form or contact the police on 105.
People trying to make contact with family or friends, or who want to let others know they are safe, can share a message on the NZ Herald community noticeboard: Cyclone Gabrielle: How do I find missing family and friends? Post your message here to let people know you’re safe - NZ Herald
The team at Animal Evac New Zealand has been rescuing animals from the floods. Lost and found pets, including horses, are listed on their website LostPet.co.nz - part of New Zealand largest lost pet and found pet network - Home

Financial support for service providers and community groups

On Monday, 13 February, the Government announced an $11.5 million Community Support Package to help those affected by the recent North Island floods.

The Community Support Package for people impacted by North Island Floods and Cyclone Gabrielle, includes:

Community support fund ($2 million)
Community providers fund ($4 million)
Food fund ($1 million)
Support through Community Connectors ($4 million).
Support for disabled people ($0.5 million)

More information about the Community Support Package is on the Work and Income website here.

Ethnic service providers working on Cyclone Gabrielle and Auckland flood response

We’re coordinating with ethnic service providers and raising their concerns with relevant agencies. We have listened to feedback about the lack of language support, cultural support and funding and resources for providers.

There are some concerns about temporary accommodation being some distance from schools and communities, and fears about the long-term impacts of these events. We are passing these insights on to government agencies responding directly to these events.

In addition, our engagement advisors are reaching out to service providers in affected areas.

Here is some recent information we received from the Hawke’s Bay:

Hastings Sikh community has delivered more than 3000 meals to Civil Defence centres in the region. The community has worked tirelessly to cook and provide these meals to emergency and temporary shelters, including marae. Thank you so much for feeding so many people.

We also want to thank the Star of India restaurant, which opened its doors in Taradale on Thursday evening and provided free meals to the community.

Our thanks are extended to the Muslim community too. The New Zealand Muslim Association has opened mosques across Auckland as emergency shelters for people affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.

'It's part of the faith': Auckland mosques open as emergency shelters | Stuff.co.nz

The following organisations continue to support the flood response in Auckland. Reach out to them if you or your family need support. We will keep you posted with other service providers from the other regions as well.

Asian Family Services

They provide nationwide confidential and comprehensive services. They offer services in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai, and Hindi. Asian Helpline 0800 862 342 runs from 9am-8pm Monday to Friday.

Phone: 0800 862 342
Email: help@asianfamilyservices.nz OR asian.admin@asianfamilyservices.nz * Website: https://www.asianfamilyservices.nz/
Address: Level 1, 128 Khyber Pass Road, Grafton, Auckland 1023

The Asian Network Inc

The Asian Network Inc. (TANI) is a pan-Asian community-based organisation, committed to working together with ethnic communities including Asian migrants and former refugees, to help them experience a better quality of life & wellbeing in New Zealand.

Phone: 021 274 7448
Email: info@asiannetwork.org.nz
Website: https://www.asiannetwork.org.nz/
Address: 101 Church Street, Onehunga, Auckland, 1061

Mt Roskill Collective and NZ Ethnic Women’s Trust

They are working in the Mt Roskill area to support Muslim women and children who are impacted by the flood/Cyclone. They have temporary emergency shelter, provide food, bed and support people who need to access services from MSD and Auckland Council.

Mobile: 022 632 1053 (please text)
Email: eva.chen@stats.govt.nz
Website: https://www.nzethnicwomen.org/

CNSST

CNSST offers a Community Connection Service Discretionary fund to all community members that are impacted by the Flood/Cyclone, regardless of people’s visa status are entitled to this support. They also have multi-lingual support services for Greek, Mongolian, Chinese, Korean, Malay, Hokkien and Hakka speaking families.

Phone: 09 570 1188
Wechat: CNSST095701188
Email: info@cnsst.org.nz
Website: www.cnsst.org.nz

Diversity Counselling New Zealand

Diversity Counselling New Zealand (DCNZ) offers counselling and psychology services for migrants and former refugees since its establishment in 2013 by ethnic people for ethnic people. They offer service in 24 languages. DCNZ can provide free counselling and psychotherapy sessions for ethnic community members who are affected by the recent floods/Cyclone.

Mobile: 0210 262 5587 (please text)
Phone: 0800 143 269
Email: contact@dcnz.net
Website: https://dcnz.net

The Fatimah Foundation

The Fatimah Foundation provides support with 9 languages, cultural and faith-based manaaki. They have mobilised the South and East Auckland community to donate towels, clothes, cleaning products and up to 100 halal meals per day. The Fatima Foundation website is a great resource around flood/Cyclone support. If you are an ethnic community member living in South Auckland and require support, please contact:

Mobile: 027 224 2667
Phone: 09 259 4454 OR 0800 222 432
Email: info@fatimahfoundation.org.nz
Website: https://fatimahfoundation.org.nz/auckland-floods

Supreme Sikh Society of New Zealand

They closely work with 32 organisations who we support with necessities as required. Being New Zealanders, they serve the wider NZ whānau regardless of their caste, creed, or religion.

Mobile: 021 294 8923 OR 021 803 512
Phone: 09 296 2376 OR 09 296 2375
Email: nzsikhhelpline@gmail.com & supremesikhsocietynz@gmail.com
Address: 70 Takanini School Rd, Takanini 2112, Auckland

Contact Us

You can reach out to us by email at info@ethniccommunities.govt.nz.

Take care of yourselves, your families, loved ones and wider communities.

Ngā mihi nui

Mervin Singham
Chief Executive
Ministry for Ethnic Communities

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