Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Te PΔti MΔori co-leader Rawiri Waititi says the government's $1 million to reimburse marae that provided welfare in response to severe weather events is "not enough".
He said, "We don't need money for a response, we need money for resilience, and our communities need it right now."
The first day back at Parliament saw parties responding to the government's announcement on Tuesday it would top up the Mayoral Relief Funds with $1.2m for immediate support to those communities affected, alongside $1m for marae.
Christopher Luxon praised support from marae as "exceptional".
"They have provided shelter, food and care to people in need, and I cannot speak more highly of them."
Finance Minister Nicola Willis said Te Puni Kokiri would coordinate with NEMA on distributing funds to marae, "often Te Puni Kokiri are the ones with the relationships on the ground".
"But of course, in all of these responses, it's a matter for council, marae and emergency response to work together."
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell also p
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