Waipā residents and businesses still facing costs from February’s severe storm have until the end of September to apply for financial assistance from the district’s Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund.

Waipā, 18 September 2026: Waipā District Council is urging residents, whānau, businesses and community organisations affected by February’s destructive storm to apply for financial assistance before the Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund closes.

Applications will close at 5pm on Wednesday, 30 September, bringing to an end a fund established to help people meet uninsured or underinsured costs resulting from the storm.

Individuals can apply for grants of up to $2,000, while eligible businesses can receive up to $5,000.

Fund established after major February storm

The Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund opened in February after a severe storm struck western and southern parts of the Waipā district.

The event was described by the council as a one-in-250-year storm, causing widespread flooding and property damage and resulting in a State of Emergency being declared.

While the immediate clean-up has passed, Waipā Mayor Mike Pettit said the financial and practical effects have continued for some households and businesses.

“We know it has taken some time for people to work through insurance claims and hear back on their applications, so that’s why we’ve left the fund open this long,” Pettit said.

“If you’ve been affected, and haven’t applied yet, please get in touch before the fund closes.”

What can the funding be used for?

The fund is intended to provide one-off financial assistance for storm-related hardship that has not been adequately covered through insurance or other assistance.

Eligible support can include:

  • Basic household needs and essential personal items that are uninsured or underinsured
  • Clearing storm debris from properties
  • Replacing essential uninsured or underinsured items
  • Financial or advisory assistance for locally affected small businesses
  • Support for marae, community organisations and volunteer groups involved in the recovery

The fund is available to individuals, whānau, small businesses, community organisations, volunteer groups and marae affected by the storm.

Previous recipients may be able to apply again

People who have already received assistance should not automatically assume they are unable to make another application.

If an earlier grant was below the maximum available amount, applicants can apply again for the remaining balance.

For example, an eligible individual who previously received $1,000 could potentially apply for up to another $1,000, subject to the fund’s criteria and assessment.

The same principle applies to businesses up to the $5,000 maximum.

What the fund does not cover

The Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund is designed as a last-resort form of assistance, rather than a replacement for insurance or other established recovery programmes.

Costs already covered by insurance, the Natural Hazards Commission or another funding source are not eligible.

Applicants are expected to explore other available forms of financial assistance before seeking support through the fund.

This distinction is particularly important for people who have been waiting for insurance claims to be finalised before determining what costs remain outstanding.

February storm still affecting communities

Mayor Pettit said the impact of the February weather event extended well beyond the initial emergency response and clean-up.

For some families and businesses, establishing the full financial impact has taken months as insurance claims, repairs and other recovery work have progressed.

Keeping the fund open until the end of September was intended to give affected people more time to understand what costs remained after other assistance had been considered.

The approaching deadline now means anyone who believes they may qualify has less than two weeks to submit an application.

How to apply

Applications must be received by 5pm on Wednesday, 30 September 2026.

People can apply online through the Waipā District Council website or collect a paper application form from the council offices in Te Awamutu or Te Awamutu Library.

Completed applications can be delivered to council offices, emailed to the council’s Mayoral Relief Fund team or submitted by post.

Residents who remain unsure whether their circumstances qualify are being encouraged to contact the council before the deadline rather than miss the opportunity to apply.

With the fund approaching its final days, the council’s message to storm-affected communities is straightforward: if costs remain and other sources of assistance have not covered them, now is the time to check whether support is available.

Source: Waipā District Council, 18 September 2026.