2. Question No. 2—Social Development and EmploymentANNA LORCK (Labour—Tukituki) to the Minister for Social Development and EmploymentQuestion No. 2—Social Development and Employment2. ANNA LORCK (Labour—Tukituki) to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What announcements has she made about supporting people impacted by the extreme weather events?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development and Employment): This morning I was pleased to announce that the Government is providing support to displaced homeowners impacted by recent extreme weather events. The interim payment will be available from 4 September 2023 made weekly and directly to homeowners and set at 100 percent of the average rent declared by accommodation supplement recipients in the recipient's region. Having visited a few of the impacted areas and met informally with residents I'm hopeful that this is the security and certainty they both need and deserve as they continue to plan and recover from the extreme weather events.Anna Lorck: How much support will homeowners receive?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: The amount will be scaled according to the homeowner's location and household make-up. For example a two-parent family with three children in Auckland could receive up to $610 per week through this programme. We based the settings for this support on the Canterbury Temporary Accommodation Assistance put in place following the earthquakes but are making sure that we continue to work on an enduring solution building on the experience in Canterbury.Anna Lorck: What further announcements has the Minister made in addition to the Temporary Accommodation Assistance package?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Yesterday in Thames-Coromandel I announced the social sector recovery plan. The plan helps to ensure people's needs will continue to be met over the next two years through a suite of tangible actions. Some examples of where the funding is going to include personalised support and referral services for people impacted by land-zoning change; support for students who have missed school so they can catch up on lost learning; education and training for providers to support whānau rangatahi and tamariki with anxiety and mental wellbeing; and support for volunteers and community workers suffering burnout.Ricardo Menéndez March: Does she agree that it's unacceptable that the civil defence payment has not been updated in 20 years and if so when will she commit to increasing it to adequately support families affected by severe weather events?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: As I have said to the member in the past the civil defence payment is attached to hardship grants and because they haven't been lifted neither has the amount that you can access through the civil defence payment. However numerous families accessed the civil defence payment more than once. It was certainly based on their circumstances and need.Anna Lorck: How else is the Government supporting regions impacted by the weather events?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Whilst in Thames-Coromandel yesterday I announced a boost in support for local tourism and businesses. Government have committed $200000 to support promotion efforts to help bring visitors back into a part of the country which was badly affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. We're working alongside the council and local businesses to make sure New Zealanders know that the Coromandel is open for business over the coming summer.