Civil Defence Payments To Be Made Available For People Impacted By Last Week's StormsGiles Dexter, Political ReporterThe government will make Civil Defence payments available for people affected by last week's weather events, in specific areas. Upston told RNZ the decision to make the payments available was based on feedback on the ground from Civil Defence Emergency Management Teams and Ministry of Social Development officials. It's the people on the ground, the community, the councils, the Civil Defence organisation and MSD on the ground who determine whether or not a Civil Defence Payment is required." It had stood up a Temporary Accommodation Service, and sent motorhomes to remote and isolated communities. "Our focus this time round, rather than have people looking for accommodation assistance through the Civil Defence Payments, we've actually focused on getting accommodation solutions for them faster.