1. Question No. 1—Cyclone RecoveryTĀMATI COFFEY (Labour) to the Minister for Cyclone RecoveryORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSQuestion No. 1—Cyclone Recovery1. TĀMATI COFFEY (Labour) to the Minister for Cyclone Recovery: What progress has been made on agreements with councils in severely affected areas following Cyclone Gabrielle?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister for Cyclone Recovery): The Government has reached cost-sharing agreements with Hawke's Bay's five councils Auckland Council and Gisborne District Council to support their region's recovery from the impact of flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle. These agreements in total will see the Government contributing up to $1.7 billion from the national resilience plan to support a locally led recovery. I am pleased that we've reached an agreement and I'd like to thank the mayors and councillors for their collaborative approach in planning the recovery of these regions.Anna Lorck: What agreement has been reached with Hawke's Bay's five councils?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Well the cost-sharing agreement with Hawke's Bay's councils may be worth up to $556 million. The Government will contribute half the net cost to purchase category 3 residential properties. The net cost is the agreed buy-out value less any insurance proceeds received plus legal and transactional costs. The Government will also contribute $203.5 million for flood protection projects including $70 million ring-fenced for a flood protection scheme in Wairoa. Alongside that $260 million will be invested in roading improvements and the building of new transport infrastructure including funding the estimated costs of the Redclyffe Bridge replacement the Puketapu Matawhero and Aropaoanui bridges works in Hastings critical roading projects for Central Hawke's Bay and Te Reinga bridge works in Wairoa. Tāmati Coffey: What agreement has been reached with Gisborne District Council?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The Government and Gisborne District Council have agreed to a cost-sharing package to further support the Tairāwhiti region's recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle. The package includes supporting the council to purchase category 3 homes with the Government's contribution of half the net costs expected to be up to $15 million. We will also contribute $64 million for flood protection work and $125 million to rebuild roads and increase regional resilience. As with all of these agreements this is subject to community consultation. The Government will also facilitate a zero-interest 10-year $30 million loan for the Gisborne District Council in recognition of the cashflow challenges facing the council.Lemauga Lydia Sosene: What agreement has been reached with Auckland Council?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: A cost-sharing agreement between the Government and Auckland Council will see the Crown contribute $877 million towards Auckland's recovery. In addition the council is applying for further recovery funding through Waka Kotahi which would bring the total Crown funding Auckland may receive up to $1.1 billion. The Government will contribute half the expected net costs of up to $387 million to support Auckland Council to purchase category 3 residential properties. We will also contribute $380 million for investment in flood protection works to mitigate the flood risks in the category 2 damaged in the events and $110 million for local transport networks affected by the weather events.Tāmati Coffey: Has an agreement been reached with iwi in affected regions?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: We have a parallel pathway for dealing with whenua Māori in category 3. This pathway recognises that there are unique legal provisions governing Māori land and duties that sit with the Crown rather than with councils. We are continuing to engage with whānau hapū and iwi on these issues. I expect to be able to make announcements on this in the coming weeks. The Government is committed to working together with affected communities to find solutions for the recovery and rebuild. We are making significant investments to provide certainty to those affected by the weather events and support these regions to become more resilient as we all adapt to changing weather patterns as a result of climate change.Hon Meka Whaitiri: What reports if any has he heard from whenua Māori owners in affected areas following Cyclone Gabrielle?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: There's been a number of consultation meetings and hui taking place across Tairāwhiti and Hawke's Bay in particular. There are a range of different concerns in different places. That ranges from the place of marae also what happens in things like urupā what happens in terms of communities that live in and around those areas. We're working through that and as I said in answer to my last supplementary question I hope we will be able to make announcements about that in the coming weeks. Hon Meka Whaitiri: What promises can he give to whenua Māori owners in Ōmahu Waiōhiki Pētane Tāngoio Wairoa Te Karaka and the East Coast affected by Gabrielle that there will be money left in the kitty because his officials are still trying to work out the special characteristics of whenua Māori six months on? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I can absolutely assure those communities who have been the places where the hui have been held that we remain committed to supporting them and that resources will be available for that.