A special Lotto draw will be held on Saturday, March 18 to help raise money for a cyclone recovery appeal.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins made the announcement following his weekly Cabinet meeting on Monday.
The money raised will go to communities impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle. (Source: 1News)
At least 11 people have died and numerous homes and businesses impacted after Cyclone Gabrielle hit parts of the North Island earlier this month, with roads and farms and orchards also badly hit.
Four people remain unaccounted for.
Recovery is expected to cost billions of dollars.
An international fundraising appeal will be also be launched, modelled on the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal, which raised $94 million.
"We will rebound from Gabrielle by building back better, safer, and smarter. This global appeal means we can harness local and international donations and channel them to the communities and projects that need them the most," Hipkins said.
"Supporting the appeal and the Lotto draw is a great way of showing we've got each other's backs, supporting those who've had their lives upended and so desperately need their communities rebuilt.
"I feel a real sense of national unity in the wake of the cyclone and it's humbling to see so many already making donations and offers of assistance. Every little bit makes a difference."
The appeal will focus on the country's "medium- to long-term recovery projects which ensure affected regions build back better with greater resilience and are better prepared to withstand the next extreme weather event".
"We will be looking at how we can harness both the public and private sectors to get in behind the appeal, making the most of our international connections as well as looking to fundraising efforts here at home too."
Funds raised from the Lotto draw would go to communities impacted by Gabrielle, Internal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds said.
"I've seen the enormous 'all hands on deck' community response to the devastation. It's taken its toll and there is clearly a huge need out there which we can all show our support for," she said.
The special Lotto draw will see Lotto NZ double its community contribution to ensure that half of all tickets sales — or 50 cents in every dollar spent by players on Lotto, Powerball or Strike — will go to support those impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle, Lotto NZ chief executive Chris Lyman said.
"Like all New Zealanders, our hearts go out to the communities that have suffered the devastating impact of Cyclone Gabrielle — and we want to do all we can to help.
"Raising money for the community is Lotto NZ's fundamental purpose, and so we welcome the opportunity to support recovery efforts by raising funds through this special draw."
The Cyclone Gabrielle Appeal will be overseen by a charitable trust with Department of Internal Affairs chief executive Paul James, former Napier mayor Barbara Arnott, and Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou chairman Selwyn Parata, as the trustees.
Donations can be made by visiting the Cyclone Appeal website, texting GIVE to 2454 to donate $3, or over the counter at all trading banks.
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