Welfare and assistance

Affected by recent severe weather? Do you need help?

If you live in the Northland region and have been affected by recent severe weather you may be eligible for assistance if you need it.

Here is a list of services and agencies that are available to help you and your whānau. The type and amount of assistance available will differ depending on your needs and situation.

Assistance and information - District councils

If you need information, assistance or to report urgent weather-related issues, here are the key contact details for each district.

Evacuation centres

If you feel you need to leave your current location, we recommend you go to friends and whānau in the first instance, as it’s usually more comfortable than being in an evacuation centre.

If you are unable to safely relocate, please see options below.

In an emergency requiring a need for Civil Defence and community led centres to be activated, their locations and other important information is communicated via radio, council websites and Facebook.

Civil Defence centres

These centres are managed by local district councils and are equipped to provide you with a safe place to eat, sleep and access essential support services.

Community led centres

These centres are managed by the community and can be located at marae, in local churches or community halls. They are not run by Civil Defence Northland, they are opened and managed by the community with guidance from district councils.

If you’d like to know the locations of open evacuation centres in your area, please call your local district council or check their Facebook page for the latest information. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye out on your community Facebook pages for updates.

Support Service Directory – Hearts & Minds Tai Tokerau

This directory is your pathway to the support and resources available in your local community. Services listed include Community Information and Resources, Crisis and Emergency Disability/Special Needs, Hardship Support including foodbanks, Counselling/ Support and many more.

heartsandminds.org.nz/directory

Māori community / Iwi support

Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups are working alongside marae, hapū, iwi and Māori community groups across the region. To be connected in with the appropriate person or agency for advice and support please contact your district council.

Emergency Contact Options for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Speech Impaired People

If you are Deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech impairment, there are alternative ways to contact emergency services during a cyclone or other emergency:

  • NZ Relay Services
    You can use NZ Relay to contact phone numbers if you have internet or mobile access available. Please note that this service relies on data or mobile coverage, which may be disrupted during severe weather events.
  • Text 111 (Emergency Services)
    If you are pre-registered, you can text 111 to contact Police, Fire, or Ambulance in an emergency.
    Registration is required before the service will work - Register online at the NZ Police 111 TXT page.

Business support

Find useful information for businesses who may be affected by flooding, storm or cyclone damage in Northland.

www.northlandnz.com/business/get-business-support

Animal welfare

If you are concerned about your animals or pets, contact your veterinarian in the first instance. If you need to report an animal welfare issue or have an animal welfare query, contact Ministry Primary Industries (MPI) animal welfare team: 0800 008 333. If you need assistance or advice on farm, please contact the Rural Support Trust for advice: 0800 787 254.

Key preparedness messages include:

  • Moving stock to higher ground, relocating autumn calving cows to safe areas, and planning for potential disruptions to milk collection.
  • Checking fuel levels for generators in case of power outages.
  • Preparing companion animals for possible evacuation (e.g. food, medication, carriers).

Emergency health advice

If it is an emergency or someone has trouble breathing, call 111.

If you need urgent health advice please contact your usual family doctor, Healthline, or a local urgent care clinic.

Find out more: Emergency health advice (PDF 368 KB)

Insurance

If your home, car, or contents have been damaged by the severe weather please contact your insurance company. Many household insurance policies will also cover commercial accommodation if you have to leave your home due to damage.

The insurance council has some good information for landlords, renters, and business.

Victim support

Victim Support can deliver 24 hours, seven days a week support services to help people recover from the stress and trauma brought on by the storm.

To find out more call 0800 VICTIM (842 846).

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