two people with haybales after flooding

Pictured: Selwyn Emergency Support Team members help out during the May floods

Flood relief support, through the Council’s Mayoral Relief Fund, has helped people around Waikirikiri Selwyn after the May flooding event.

The fund was opened in June with funding of $50,000 provided through Minister of Emergency Management and Recovery, Mark Mitchell, and has now closed after all of the funding available was allocated to support 30 individuals, families and groups in need.

Grants were used to support a wide range of needs, including home clean-up costs, animal welfare and resilience funding to help community groups develop plans for future severe weather events. Many recipients talked about the financial and personal stress they were facing from the aftermath of the floods, Council Head of Emergency Management Al Lawn says.

“The impacts of an adverse event can last a long time. Stress builds as the clean-up takes time and the costs for it pile up. Government support to local recovery makes a big difference to people.

“It’s great to have the support of this government funding, which enables a local team who work directly with these recipients and can access the funding to help where possible. People have been so relieved to have some practical support for cleaning up their houses and land, and for stock that had to be moved and cared for while that happened. It just takes the pressure off.”

Last modified: 24 Sep 2025 10:00am