Emergency Payments Following North Island Severe Weather EventHon Louise UpstonMinister for Social Development and EmploymentCivil Defence payments will be available for people affected by the severe weather in specific areas of Northland, Bay of Plenty and East Coast to help cover some emergency costs, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston has announced. “We want to make sure those communities that are doing it tough because of the latest severe weather event have as much support as possible,” Louise Upston says. “You don’t have to be on a benefit to qualify for a Civil Defence payment, and non-residents in these areas may be eligible. “MSD regional teams continue to actively engage with Regional Public Service networks and Civil Defence Emergency Management as welfare assessments are undertaken and will continue to assess the need for Civil Defence payments in other impacted areas. “We’ll continue to support communities affected by this event,” Louise Upston says.