Pettis Jill: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Pettis Jill: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:616;Page:11786] 
9.  
JILL PETTIS (Labour—Whanganui) 
 to the  
Minister for Rural Affairs 
: What reports has he received on the response from flood-affected people to the Government’s package? 
Hon JIM SUTTON (Minister for Rural Affairs) 
: 
 The Government’s offer has been well received by farmers and crop growers who told National Radio that it was more than they expected and that it reflected the Government’s recognition of the importance of agriculture to the New Zealand economy. Federated Farmers’ vice-president Charlie Pederson says: “It’s basically a 10 out of 10 for the Government. The package is timely it’s comprehensive and it’s going to target all people affected.” 
Jill Pettis 
: Has the Government placed limits on how much each farmer can receive? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: No. The Government is offering 75 percent of essential on-farm infrastructure reinstatement costs and 90 percent of crop re-establishment costs minus a $10000 threshold without any cap. This is about giving people a helping hand to get back in business. The effect of capping individual entitlements would have been that those who had suffered the highest levels of damage would have received a lower percentage of assistance. 
Simon Power 
: Is the Government contribution of a dollar for every community dollar raised which was announced 2 weeks ago to go directly to those community organisations such as the Red Cross or will that money go to regional relief funds? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: My understanding and this is not directly within my portfolio is that this will go to the Manawatu-Rangitikei community fund which is a sort of clearing house for many of these fundraising efforts. 
R Doug Woolerton 
: Can the Minister tell us what specific procedures have been established to ensure that individuals receive compensation promptly? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: The process for distributing this assistance will be as efficient as we can make it. There will of course be a form that people have to fill out and there will be an examination of the application submitted. That examination will be conducted by local committees of farmers and foresters chaired by the regional recovery facilitators who are already in place. Operational details will still have to be worked out but it will be the intention of the Government and I am sure the local committees to keep the process as simple and speedy as possible. 
Ian Ewen-Street 
: Has the Government allocated money for the reforestation of the headwaters of river catchments in order to contribute to the long-term flood mitigation in the affected areas; if not why not? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: The answer to that is no. The objective of this package is to restore farms to production as quickly as possible for the benefit of the regional and national economy. There is no doubt a case to be made that some of the country that has been subject to severe slipping damage in the headwaters of these rivers might be afforested to advantage but that is a matter that we have yet to address. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: With regard to the dollar for dollar subsidy when will the Government be releasing the list of organisations to which that applies that was promised a few days ago? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: I do not know the answer to that question.