Floods bring hardship grants

The March and July floods on the Kaeo community have encouraged the Eastern Community Board to give tangible acknowledgement to the hardship many in the community may still be facing.

Grants of $5000 and $8550 have been made from the board’s Grants & Donations Account to the Kaeo Christmas Parade Festival Committee and the Whangaroa Service Club respectively.

The applications for assistance did not fully qualify under normal funding criteria, but the board elected to make the grants on compassionate grounds and in recognition of the hardships the Kaeo community had experienced in the flood events.

The funds will be applied by the recipients to the annual Kaeo Christmas Festival and in the case of the Whangaroa Service Club, towards the purchase of a new log splitter and chainsaw.

The board this month has also made a $15,000 grant available to the Aroha Island Tendering Committee at Kerikeri to assist in plans to develop the island into a national reserve for kiwi.