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Regional | Business

Govt relief for Kaikoura small businesses

Small businesses in earthquake-stricken Kaikoura are set to get some financial relief, with the government setting aside an initial $7.5mil over an eight week period.

Businesses with no more than 20 employees in the Kaikoura and surrounding area are set to benefit from a government relief package.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce says, “That package has been put together by Ministry of Social Development and MBIE and it’s to support businesses in the first period following the quake where their business are very significantly affected particularly by the closure of State Highway 1.”

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says, “There is so much unknown at the moment that we're this is really focused on making sure that people stay in work so that when the recovery becomes clearer their jobs are secure.”

The Earthquake Support Subsidy will see eight weeks of cover given at $500 a week for full-time employees and $300 a week for part-time employees.

“We very conscious of the fact that that's likely not going to be sufficient but we wanna start with an eight week period and ministers will review it before Christmas hopefully when we have more information on the progress of the highway,” says Joyce.

The subsidy is open to all business types including sole traders, and everyone is being asked to use their insurance cover for the loss of earnings first before accessing the wage subsidy.

“People can also get help from Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce the two district councils Hurunui and Kaikoura and also Enterprise North Canterbury,” says Tolley.

There are no answers yet as to the full scale of business losses, but anyone wanting to access the subsidy can ring the following number  0800 779 997.