3. Question No. 3—Cyclone RecoveryTĀMATI COFFEY (Labour) to the Minister for Cyclone RecoveryQuestion No. 3—Cyclone RecoverySPEAKER: Question No. 3 Tāmati Coffey. TĀMATI COFFEY (Labour): Thank you Mr Speaker. [Interruption] My question—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! I'd like to hear this question.3. TĀMATI COFFEY (Labour) to the Minister for Cyclone Recovery: What recent announcements has he made on support for cyclone-affected regions?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister for Cyclone Recovery): The Government is providing a further $567 million to Waka Kotahi for immediate works on State highways in Tairāwhiti Wairoa Hawke's Bay Coromandel and Northland. The funding will come from the $6 billion national resilience plan announced in Budget 2023 to support the building of infrastructure that is more resilient to the impacts of climate change. As I've said previously the immediate focus is on building back better from the North Island weather events. Over time the plan will address the severe infrastructure deficits that have been holding New Zealand back. I would also note that the investment announced yesterday is on top of the $525 million already provided to Waka Kotahi in the immediate aftermath of the cyclone. Connecting our community is critical to getting our regions back on their feet and that is why we are supporting it.Tāmati Coffey: What else did the announcement say about building resilience in the transport infrastructure in cyclone-affected regions?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: This extra funding will be used to replace or strengthen or rebuild damaged bridges and roads in affected regions. It will also improve the road surface on major stretches of roads where potholes and cracks left after the weather events have made travel slow and frustrating for locals. Some specific examples include on State Highway 35 rebuilding the Hikuwai Bridge; repairs and rebuilding of bridges on State Highway 2 north of Napier; and the State Highway 1 Brynderwyn to Dome Valley section. In addition to this funding for State highways the Government has already made a significant contribution to local road repairs in the regions which are normally the responsibility of local government. This amounts to around $210 million since February this year. Tāmati Coffey: What other announcements has the Government made to support the regions affected by the cyclone?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The Government has negotiated a cost-sharing package with Hawke's Bay mayors and the regional council chair. This includes the cost of buying out high-risk residential properties in the region on a cost-sharing basis. The mayors have agreed to take the package to their councils and they will meet to discuss it this week. The priority areas of the overall package will be addressing category 3 property buy-outs flood protection and urgent roading and bridge repairs. As I've said previously we are moving as quickly as we can in supporting councils with their locally led recovery. The agreements that we've reached with the region's leaders will give the people of Hawke's Bay certainty. Councils are now being asked to look at the package ratify it and consult with their communities as appropriate.Tāmati Coffey: What work is the Government doing with other councils affected by the recent weather events?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Negotiations with Auckland and Tairāwhiti on cost-sharing arrangements are progressing well and we're hopeful that agreements can be reached in these regions shortly. Alongside these negotiations the Crown is working through a process and support package for whenua Māori and communities affected in the regions that have a large amount of Māori land. Funding for this work sits outside the cost of the cost-sharing arrangements with councils. We are committed to working together with all affected communities iwi and councils to find solutions for recovery and rebuild. As I've said previously we cannot meet all the costs particularly as we know that there will be more extreme weather events like this. We are striking a balance between supporting affected communities without taxpayers having to bear all of the cost of that.Simeon Brown: Is he satisfied with the political impartiality of all his cyclone recovery taskforce members?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Yes I am and—Hon Members: Ha ha!Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Yes I am. The cyclone recovery taskforce is doing an excellent job of making sure—Chris Bishop: Oh yeah—yeah yeah yeah.Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Well I'm interested you know that the members opposite want to impugn the integrity of people who have put their hands up including I might say one of their former colleagues.