Over the past week, communities across the country – including Nelson-Tasman, Taranaki, and parts of the North Island – have been impacted by heavy rainfall and flooding.

In  Nelson-Tasman, the damage from last week’s weather is severe, with the long-term impacts still yet to be fully assessed.

Overnight, Taranaki  and other regions have also been hit hard by further flooding and the forecast suggests this unsettled weather may continue.

We’re hearing directly from affected communities across Aotearoa who are seeking support – not just for the immediate response, but the long road ahead.

FIRST72 also been working closely with our network of partners, funders, and organisations to understand where support is needed most and how we can help.

Our focus is not only on the immediate needs of affected communities, but also on the longer-term vulnerabilities – including the resilience of local infrastructure and the risk of future flooding events.

We know many of you in our network are always looking for ways to help. And we thank those who have already offered their assistance.

If you’re part of our network and in a position to support, we welcome you to reach out. Any contributions – including through the  Community Preparedness Trust – will help us reach more communities, respond faster, and strengthen local resilience in the face of ongoing and future events.