Amendment to the Special Needs Grant Welfare Programme Pursuant to section 124 (1) (d) of the Social Security Act 1964, I, Roger Morrison Sowry, Minister of Social Welfare, approve the following amendments to the special needs grant welfare programme (as originally approved on 8 January 1996, and approved by me on 23 December 1996), which are to be considered part of the programme with effect on and from 27 April 1998. Dated this 24th day of April 1998. ROGER SOWRY, Minister of Social Welfare. Amendments 1. Special Assistance to the Rural Sector 1.1 The programme is amended by inserting, after clause 20C.5, the following clauses: ``20D Grants to farmers in the Hawke's Bay region ``20D.1 Drought affected farmers in the Hawke's Bay region are eligible for financial assistance under this Part as if clause 20C.1 applies to them. ``20D.2 In relation to such farmers, this Part comes into effect on 27 April 1998 and ceases to apply on 27 April 1999, unless extended by the Minister. ``20D.3 For the purposes of assisting such farmers under this Part, clause 20C.2 does not apply.'' Explanatory Note This note is not part of the welfare programme but is intended to indicate its general effect. These amendments, approved by the Minister of Social Welfare under section 124 (1) (d) of the Social Security Act 1964, amend the welfare programme approved by the Minister on 8 January 1996 relating to special needs grants. The amendments to the programme are to assist farmers affected by the drought in the Hawke's Bay region. The changes to the programme come into force on 27 April 1998.