The North Island Weather Events (NIWE) Primary Producer Finance Scheme (the Scheme) aims to help North Island land-based primary producers that have been severely impacted by the North Island Weather Events in early 2023, including the Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.
The Scheme was initially open for applications and expressions of interest for 6 weeks, from 31 July to 8 September 2023, and was then re-opened for expressions of interest only from 2 October to 27 October 2023. The total funding available is $240 million and must be committed by 30 June 2024.
We are currently evaluating expressions of interest and applications received. If you have submitted an expression of interest, one of our advisors will contact you in the coming weeks to let you know whether you should apply for the Scheme in full and what the next steps are.
If you have submitted an application, one of our advisors will contact you in the coming weeks to let you know if you have been successful and what the next steps are.
Other NIWE financial support for businesses
The related NIWE Loan Guarantee Scheme remains open.
This Scheme enables commercial lenders to provide loans to highly affected businesses across all sectors with more favourable terms including reduced interest rates.
The Loan Guarantee Scheme is administered by the Crown and delivered through commercial lenders, such as banks, non-bank deposit takers (non-banks) and non-deposit-taking lenders.
Find out more about eligibility and how to apply on The Treasury's website
Other support for rural producers and communities
The Ministry of Primary Industries has a wide range of other support available for farmers, growers, whenua Māori owners and rural communities impacted by the weather events.
Cyclone Gabrielle recovery: advice, support, and funding — Ministry for Primary Industries