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 Services, Work and Income, 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 2 November 1998. Dated this 2nd day of November 1998. Hon. 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 20G.3, the following clauses: ``20H Grants to farmers in the Buller, Grey and Westland Districts, and the Waikato and Franklin Districts ``20H.1 Farmers affected by the prolonged period of rainfall that started in September 1997 in the Buller, Grey and Westland Districts are eligible for financial assistance under this Part as if clause 20C.1 applies to them. ``20H.2 Farmers affected by the floods in July 1998 in the Waikato and Franklin Districts are eligible for financial assistance under this Part as if clause 20C.1 applies to them. ``20H.3 In relation to such farmers, this Part comes into effect on 2 November 1998 and ceases to apply on 2 November 1999, unless extended by the Minister. ``20H.4 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 prolonged period of rainfall in the Buller, Grey and Westland Districts, and farmers affected by the floods in the Waikato and Franklin Districts. The changes to the programme come into force on 2 November 1998.