Under clauses 18.2 and 18.6 of the Special Needs Grants Programme¹, as established and approved on 18 December 1998 under section 124(1)(d) of the Social Security Act 1964 (“the programme”), I give my approval for Part 6 of the programme to apply as follows:

Rural Assistance – Farmers

1. Farmers in the affected areas whose primary industries are directly affected by drought are eligible to be considered for financial assistance under Part 6 of the programme.
2. In relation to such farmers, Part 6 of the programme applies for the period beginning on 23 February 2015 and ending with the close of 22 February 2016, unless further extended by the Minister.
3. In this approval, affected areas means the territories of the following local authorities:

Ashburton District Council;

Central Otago District Council;

Christchurch City Council;

Dunedin City Council;

Hurunui District Council;

Kaikoura District Council;

Mackenzie District Council;

Marlborough District Council;

Selwyn District Council;

Timaru District Council;

Waimakariri District Council;

Waimate District Council; and

Waitaki District Council.

Dated at Wellington this 18th day of February 2015.

Hon ANNE TOLLEY, Minister for Social Development.

¹New Zealand Gazette, 28 January 1999, No. 8, page 202