Tauranga City Council has established a Mayoral Relief Fund following the recent severe weather events.
Tauranga City Council has established a Mayoral Relief Fund to provide timely financial assistance to families, residents, and businesses experiencing urgent, unmet needs following the recent severe weather events across Tauranga.
The fund also acts as a flexible, locally administered mechanism to support immediate recovery where existing support may be delayed, incomplete, or unavailable.
This fund operates alongside and is complementary to, the Western Bay Emergency Response Fund, which is a joint initiative between Acorn Foundation, BayTrust, TECT, Tauranga City Council, and Western Bay of Plenty District Council that channels support to local organisations, marae, and charities.
What the fund can support
To help our city and community recover, the fund is intended to provide timely welfare and financial support following the recent severe weather events.
This may involve:
- Supporting specific needs of individuals or families directly affected
- Providing financial and advisory support to locally impacted businesses
- Supporting recovery of Mauao, our treasured maunga (mountain)
- Support for community and volunteer groups involved in recovery efforts
The goal is to bridge gaps quickly, ensuring those affected can be supported while longer‑term needs are identified and addressed.
What the fund will not support
The following areas fall outside the scope of the fund:
- Damage or losses covered by insurance, EQC, or other funding streams
- General maintenance or repairs unrelated to the weather event
- Long‑term, large‑scale building or infrastructure repair
- Costs ordinarily met by local government, central government welfare or infrastructure programmes
These exclusions ensure the fund remains targeted to urgent unmet need and is used responsibly and fairly.
How to apply
Families, residents, and businesses affected by the recent severe weather events can apply through:
Assessment will follow a streamlined, needs based process to ensure timely support.
Applications will close at the end of February 2026. This will be reviewed if required.
Donations welcome – how to donate
Donations from individuals, community groups, and businesses are welcomed to extend the fund’s capacity to support those affected.
Donations can be made via:
Account name: Tauranga City Council
- Account number: 06 0433 0213474 00
- Particulars: Name of the donor
- Reference: Mayoral Relief Fund
The Tauranga Mayoral Relief Fund is not an IRD registered donee organisation so donations will not be tax deductible.