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Story: Floods

Disaster relief costs for Cyclone Bola

Relief work Cost
(NZ$ million)
Damage to catchment works 3.20
Gisborne water supply 6.60
Gisborne railway bridge 3.50
Road repairs 34.30
Farm assistance fund 50.00
Disaster recovery employment scheme 4.70
Horticulture salvage scheme 0.75
Civil defence disaster recovery 3.30
Mayoral relief fund 0.15
Other costs 4.50
Total 112.00

Events such as Cyclone Bola can be very expensive. This table lists the costs to the government of disaster relief following the cyclone. The total amount was around $112 million. The figure would be much higher if it included the costs for individuals and insurance companies.

Using this item

Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, 1993

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How to cite this page

Eileen McSaveney, Floods – Southland floods and Cyclone Bola, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/table/4892/disaster-relief-costs-for-cyclone-bola (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Eileen McSaveney, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 February 2024.