Carter David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Carter David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:615;Page:11091] 
9.  
Hon DAVID CARTER (National) 
 on behalf of  
SIMON POWER (National—Rangitikei) 
 to the  
Minister of Civil Defence 
: What defence resources are available to civil defence authorities organising relief efforts in the Manawatu/Rangitikei region particularly Air Force Iroquois helicopters? 
Hon JIM SUTTON (Minister of Agriculture) 
 on behalf of the  
Minister of Civil Defence 
: Under the National Civil Defence Plan and depending on the circumstances the full resources of the Defence Force are potentially available. In this latest situation the worst since Cyclone Bola 200 personnel 40 vehicles and 3 Iroquois helicopters have been involved in civil defence and accommodation was made available at Linton Camp and Ohakea air force base. A defence command post was established at Linton early on Monday morning. Liaison officers are deployed to all district councils and the regional civil defence headquarters. 
Hon David Carter 
: Will the Minister confirm to the House today that following the Government’s winding down of the Air Force there are only three Iroquois helicopters available and operational because the rest of the New Zealand fleet is grounded and unable to fly? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: No I cannot confirm that. 
Darren Hughes 
: In addition to the defence resources that have been made available to the Horowhenua Manawatu and Rangitikei areas what other Government resources are available to help in these flood-stricken areas? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: Mr Speaker if I am to give an adequate answer it will be a little longer than usual. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member has asked and I think that in the circumstances concerned I will allow a longer answer. 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: Civil defence was activated in a timely manner with defence and police involvement. Ministers today signed off a package of assistance including Government agencies including health Work and Income agriculture and forestry housing and Te Puni Kokiri coordinating their activities with civil defence and emergency management groups’ regional recovery activities in problem areas; and the activation of an enhanced Task Force Green scheme to provide clean-up support where needed. This will be supplemented by volunteers and the military if required and as available. There has been the appointment by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of up to six agricultural coordinators; the provision by the ministry of technical and consulting assistance in the form of advice to farmers for the rural sector where appropriate; activation of the ministry’s rural sector assistance special needs grants; and Rural Support Trust counselling for farmers and their families where required. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is working to assess the extent of problems in the rural areas and the resources needed to achieve full recovery. The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management will coordinate that information with information from the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management’s groups and utilities. Task Force Green workers have been successfully utilised many times to help with clean-ups after civil defence emergencies as well as help restore public assets and external farm fences. Local council costs in dealing with displaced people are fully reimbursed. 
Hon David Carter 
: Now that the Government has finally realised the seriousness of this disaster and that its response requires far more than the initial response of $20000 what does the Government estimate will be the total cost of the package that the Prime Minister announced 2 hours ago? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: The total cost obviously will not be known until the total size of the problem is known. I think it ill behoves the member to try to make cheap political capital out of people’s suffering.