On 28 March 2024, the Government declared this drought a medium-scale adverse event.
We may be able to help if you are in one of these regions or districts and your business or personal income is affected.
- Northland
- Taranaki
- Manawatu-Wanganui (including Tararua)
- Greater Wellington (including Horowhenua and the Wairarapa)
- Marlborough
- Tasman
- Nelson
- Canterbury
- Otago
Contacting us
You can contact us on our emergency helpline 0800 473 566.
Help for you or your family
We may be able to help with your personal tax, KiwiSaver, or student loan payments. For child support or Working for Families payments, you’ll need to let us know if your situation has changed.
Individual and family support in an adverse or emergency event
Help for your business
If you have a business or are self-employed, we can help if you are affected by an adverse or emergency event.
Business support in an adverse or emergency event
Help for farmers and growers
You may be able to get help through the income equalisation scheme if your income is affected by this event.
We have made ‘class of case’ decisions to cover farmers and growers in the affected regions. Details are as follows.
Income equalisation scheme – late deposits
You can make late deposits for the 2023 income year up to 30 June 2024.
Income equalisation scheme – early refunds
You can apply for the early refund of a deposit if it was made before these dates. Normally, income equalisation deposits aren’t available for refund until 12 months after they have been made.
- 14 March 2024 - Marlborough, Tasman and Nelson districts
- 21 March 2024 - Canterbury and Otago regions
- 28 March 2024 - Greater Wellington (including Horowhenua and the Wairarapa), Manawatu-Wanganui (including Tararua), Taranaki and Northland regions)
Your application for an early refund must be in writing. It may take approximately 5 days to process.
The refund will be income in the year you make the application, unless you apply it to the previous income year.