Amendment to the Special Needs Grant Welfare Programme Pursuant to section 124 (1) (d) of the Social Security Act 1964 and section 7 of the Constitution Act, I, Roger Morrison Sowry, a member of the Executive Council, approve the following amendments to the Special Needs Grant welfare programme (as originally approved on 8 January 1996, and approved by me on 20 December 1996), which are to be considered part of the programme with effect on and from 14 September 1998. Dated this 14th day of September 1998. ROGER SOWRY, Minister of Social Services, Work and Income. AMENDMENTS 1. SPECIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE RURAL SECTOR 1.1 The programme is amended by inserting, after clause 20F.4, the following clauses: ``20G Grants to farmers in the Whakatane and Opotiki Districts ``20G.1 Farmers affected by the floods in July 1998 in the Whakatane and Opotiki Districts are eligible for financial assistance under this Part as if clause 20C.1 applies to them. ``20G.2 In relation to such farmers, this Part comes into effect on 14 September 1998 and ceases to apply on 31 March 1999, unless extended by the Minister. ``20G.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 Services, Work and Income 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 flooding that occurred in July 1998 in parts of the Whakatane and Opotiki Districts. The changes to the programme come into force on 14 September 1998.