Kiwibank is donating more than $300,000 towards cyclone relief efforts in the North Island. Kiwibank has already supported the immediate efforts in Hawkes Bay by donating generators and fuel and now this donation will be targeted towards the recovery efforts.

Kiwibank will be donating $200,000 to 2022 Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year Dave Letele, through the “Just Move Charitable Trust”. An additional $50,000 is earmarked for Kiwibank people based in the Hawkes Bay to donate as they see fit, to help get their community back up and thriving.

Kiwibank Chief Executive Steve Jurkovich, said our immediate thoughts and efforts went to supporting our people and customers who were impacted.

“We have support in place for our people and we contacted our customers who’ve been impacted to offer support in what will likely be an extended recovery period.

“We are now turning our minds to how we can aid those doing the hard mahi to aid that recovery. We immediately reached out to Dave who we have worked with previously to see how we could support his efforts with his local community.

“We have seen the devastation the recent weather and cyclone has brought to many of our regions. This has impacted many of our Kiwibank whānau and we hope this plays a small part in assisting with the recovery.”

Dave Letele, 2022 Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year has been busy with cyclone and weather related relief work, starting with Tāmaki Makaurau whānau who needed to replace household items and now moving to focus on Hawke's Bay.

“I am beyond stoked, excited and grateful Kiwibank came to me with the offer of a significant donation. Our team has just been responding to the immediate needs to the community, so this donation is a huge relief to help us extend our efforts and help more whānau who need it.

“My team has been working so hard on the ground. This donation will make a huge difference to the numbers of people we can reach and help out.”

The additional $50,000 Kiwibank has been allocated by local Kiwbank people based in Hawke’s Bay.

“Our people have done an incredible job of balancing looking after their friends and whānau, keeping Kiwibank ticking over and helping out the wider community,” said Mr Jurkovich.

“They have chosen to split the funds between the Hawke's Bay Foundation and the Regional Disaster Relief Fund. We are so proud of our people who are getting on with everyday life under extraordinary circumstances.”

Kiwibank also made one-off funds available for its people who were impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle, which were just a small way to support its people with their immediate needs. For Kiwibank customers who are impacted by floods or the cyclone, there is a team of Kiwibank people focused on ways to support. 

Find out more about our support options for those affected by the North Island cyclones and floods.