Woolworths customers donate $250k to support Cyclone Gabrielle recovery

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Hawke’s Bay was hit hard by the cyclone.
Photo: RNZ / Maja Burry

Woolworths New Zealand will give $250,000 in customer donations to support the Cyclone Gabrielle recovery in Tairāwhiti Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay.

Of that, $100,000 will go to the Hawke’s Bay Disaster Relief Trust, while $50,000 each will go to the Tairāwhiti Mayoral Relief Fund, Rural Support Trust, and the Federated Farmers Gisborne/Wairoa re-fencing and recovery fund.

Woolworths NZ managing director Spencer Sonn said the money had been donated to the Countdown Food for Good Trust over the past year.

“We know that the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle continues to be devastating for those affected, and the need for help will continue for years,” Sonn said.

“We are so grateful to our customers for providing these funds and we are very happy they can help with the ongoing recovery.”

Woolworths earlier gave more than $250,000 in customer donations in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle as well as the January 2023 flooding in Auckland.

In addition, Woolworths NZ donated $450,000 in food and funds to help charities and organisations providing on-the-ground assistance and support to the most impacted communities.

It also provided disaster relief support for its growers after Gabrielle hit, including $700,000 in cash grants.