The Government has announced it will provide an interim payment to displaced homeowners when their temporary accommodation payments run out.
It will be available from September 4 and will be made weekly.
Social Development and Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni said the interim payment will be set at 100% of the average rent declared by Accommodation Supplement recipients in the recipients' region.
The Government said the payment is targeted to people who are not being otherwise supported to pay for temporary private rental accommodation.
"We recognise the need to provide certainty to residents who are unable to return to their homes. This payment will help bridge the gap until repairs are undertaken or a decision is made on the future of their property."
Sepuloni said that after visiting areas impacted by this year's extreme weather events and speaking to those impacted it was clear "they need and deserve certainty so that they can plan, recover, and get back to a sense of normality".
"The Government has prioritised setting up this payment now, as payments from insurers for temporary accommodation start to run out and the future for some people's homes remain uncertain.
"If a longer-term solution is needed there is work underway on what that might look like. In the meantime, the interim payment will give displaced homeowners the certainty and confidence they need to plan ahead," Sepuloni said.
Eligible displaced homeowners can receive a lump-sum payment covering them from as early as June 1 this year to ensure that there is not a gap in support.
Payments aren't taxable and won't affect Working for Families and most other social assistance entitlements.
Sepuloni said the interim payment is called the North Island Weather Events – Temporary Accommodation Assistance (NIWE TAA). The Ministry of Social Development can be contacted from August 21 to book an appointment, she said.
Who is eligible
============
Those who are displaced from their home which has received a red or yellow placard and they continue to face costs associated with their damaged home such as mortgage, rates and insurance.
Those who have a tenancy agreement from before July 19
Those who have earlier been receiving a temporary accommodation payment for their insurer but are no longer getting it
Those who aren't currently in Temporary Accommodation Service accommodation but are registered
Those who aren't receiving another Government payment for their temporary accommodation costs in the same property, such as the Accommodation Supplement or the Student Allowance Accommodation Benefit
What isn't covered
===============
Costs of commercial accommodation such as motels and hotels
Homeowners who are currently receiving payment for temporary support from their insurer. If a homeowner received an upfront lump sum from their insurer for temporary accommodation costs, they’re not eligible for NIWE TAA until their cover runs out
Homeowners who are receiving the Accommodation Supplement or the Student Allowance Accommodation Benefit
The Government said Auckland is AS Area One, Hawke's Bay is two, Gisborne is three and rural areas are four.
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Charities turning away high numbers of volunteer applications
Charities are turning away people wanting to volunteer amidst a flood of interest they say is linked to the high rate of unemployment.
It comes as some businesses receive thousands of applications for paid roles and people look for experience anywhere they can.
The advocacy organisation Volunteering NZ has been tracking the trend. Spokesperson Margaret McLachlan said there has been a considerable rise in applications for volunteer roles across a range of charities.
Many application forms asks people to divulge if they are job hunters.
"Over the last year or so, they are seeing more people coming in who are saying they are in that category. They are looking for work but doing volunteering while that process is taking place."
"As unemployment increases and the cost of living, times are tougher for everybody."
At the same time, she said community organisations supporting social services were busier and needed more helpers.
McLachlan said depending on the organisation, they might want to do a police check, a reference check and an interview.
"In some cases it can be a process to go through and not always, and that can take some time.
"It's actually the same barriers that a person might find in finding a job, can also apply to volunteering. It's not always a easy option."
SPCA had 120 op shops and animal rescue centres across the country in which volunteers worked.
General manager of retail Cathy Crichton said they received about 1300 extra applications for volunteer roles, a 32 percent increase, from June to November 2025, compared to 2024.
"There's definitely a nudge forward which is very exciting and we're very grateful."
But it meant they were not accepting any more volunteers in some areas.
"Because the applications are up it's a unique scenario. But at this point in time, in smaller locations, we've actually got a hold in 19 locations in New Zealand where we are at capacity - and that's very rare and it's a very new trend."
Crichton said anyone seeking volunteer work should think creatively about what skills they can offer - it could be in administration or marketing.
"We'd love to welcome as many people as we could because the more hands on deck the more we can do and the more we can contribute to the community."
She said people were self-motivated to apply for volunteer work.
The unemployment rate rose to 5.3 percent in the September quarter, meaning 160,000 people were jobless. The next quarterly figures are out in February.
"There's a willingness to give back and contribute to the community. Unemployment being high really does encourage people to engage with the workforce and get experience," Crichton said.
"It really is about staying connected with the community and meeting others."
She said they had also seen an increase in young people seeking volunteer work experience.
"It's a great opportunity to get work experience and a reference and there's an appeal there as an employer...I really do think it adds value to a CV."
Stats NZ data showed over half of New Zealanders, 53 percent, volunteered during March 2025 and of those, 27.6 percent volunteered through an organisation and 40.8 percent volunteered directly for another person.
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