Emergency waste funding of $250,000 for five councils affected by severe weather events in January and February, has been announced by Minister for the Environment Nicola Grigg today.
"The Government remains committed to supporting councils and communities dealing with the aftermath of severe weather events.
"Councils applied for funding for a range of response activities, including helping flood-affected communities remove damaged household goods and flood waste, fallen trees in public spaces, to allow temporary waste management operations and collections, or to repair local waste infrastructure."
The funding is in addition to $130,000 already allocated to local authorities impacted by severe weather events in October 2025, Minister Grigg says.
"In 2024, the Government changed the Waste Minimisation Act so that the Waste Disposal Levy could be used to support councils with the costs of managing waste arising from emergency events.
"Councils need to act quickly to respond to severe weather events and deal with waste-related risks to people's health and the environment. This practical change recognised the financial strain these events place on councils and ratepayers."
The councils awarded emergency waste funding following severe weather events in January and February 2026 were:
Gisborne District Council ($115,590.00), Manawatū District Council ($9,376), Ōtorohanga District Council ($4,944), Thames-Coromandel District Council ($7,979), and Whangarei District Council ($113,499).
The councils funded after severe weather events in October 2025 were:
Ruapehu District Council ($30,000), Clutha District Council ($56,300), and Gore District Council ($44,300).
