Francesca Rudkin: We give in good faith- but we're not idiots

We’re a generous bunch us Kiwis.

It never ceases to amaze me how New Zealander’s step up when tragedy or just bad luck strikes someone or a community.

In May 2023 - when every second headline was about the cost-of-living crisis - it was announced we’d given $36.6 million to charities and causes over that last financial year. It was a 38% increase on the previous year.

That’s a lot of money.

We’re givers and we give in good faith, but we’re not idiots and we like to know where the money is going and what it’s going to be used for.

This week, a mayor hit the headlines asking why a considerable amount of money raised through Lotto to help communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle is still in a bank account almost a year after the disaster, with no thought given to how it may be allocated.

It’s not a good look. It’s not a good look for Lotto who ran the appeal, or the Department of Internal Affairs who have banked the cash and are earning a bit of interest, or the Fund’s trustees responsible for allocations, to not have a plan yet.

If we want people to give when the need arises, and we do in this little country of ours, then having faith in the system is important. We don’t give with the expectation of getting anything in return - but we do hope that if we were in strife one day the same generosity would be shown. Stories like this don’t encourage giving.

Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst has expressed concern over the fund and its lack of action and is using the media to get things moving, but when you’re living in an area dealing with the fallout of a natural disaster, I say go for it. Especially when other cyclone-related relief funds have been effective.

The Red Cross, who faced criticism last April for being too slow to release their 27.5m in donated funds have, as of November 13, committed $24m of their fund. The Hawke’s Bay Disaster Relief Fund and the Hastings Mayoral Fund have also been hard at work.

It’s worth pointing out that because it’s gambling money there are some specific criteria regarding how the money is to be used. It must go to community minded projects like fixing facilities where people come together – sports clubs, playgrounds, marae or community halls – and the Trusts focus is on medium to long-term recovery projects. So, I understand the dust must settle before communities know what they need. It was never going to handed out immediately.

But, if you want to rely on the goodwill of the people then it helps to be transparent about the process and the fund’s intentions.

If you’re wondering where your donation will end up, answers are apparently coming this month, when the trustees will meet to consider and decide on a timeline.

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