Greens demand Civil Defence Payment in Wellington

As Wellington faces flooding and evacuation, the Greens are calling for the Civil Defence Payment to be activated immediately — arguing people need cash support now, not bureaucracy later.

The Green Party is calling on the Government to immediately activate the Civil Defence Payment across the Wellington region, after a regional state of emergency was declared this afternoon.

“A state of emergency has now been declared across the region. The Civil Defence Payment exists for exactly this situation,” says Green Party MP for Wellington Central, Tamatha Paul.

This is exactly what the Civil Defence Payment is for

“The Government needs to activate it now, and it needs to be available in every community affected, including those outside the declared emergency area who have still lost belongings.”

“MSD should take a high-trust approach. People who have just been evacuated shouldn’t have to produce paperwork to prove they need help replacing their food or their bedding.”

Green MP for Rongotai, Julie Anne Genter, says people across the region need to know support is on the way today.

“Communities across Wellington are in the middle of a civil defence emergency right now. People need practical support, and they need it today,” says Genter.

Help now, not paperwork later

“Activating the Civil Defence Payment is the most immediate thing the Government can do to help people cover the basics: food, bedding and clothing, while they work out their next steps.”

“We’re calling on the Government to activate the payment across the entire affected region without delay, and to make sure support reaches people quickly and without unnecessary barriers,” says Genter.