The Government has earmarked nearly $1 billion for a flood and cyclone recovery package aimed at repairing roads, rail and schools, as well as new flood protection and mental health support.
The damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland anniversary weekend floods is expected to cost up to $14 billion, roughly half of which is related to central and local government infrastructure.
About 10-percent of the funding will go to protection, preventing future storms from causing the same devastation.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson spoke with Ingrid Hipkiss.
