Clause 18. Grants to Farmers, Orchardists etc.

18

Grants to Farmers, Orchardists etc.

18.1

The object of this Part is to provide financial assistance for Farmers.

18.2

MSD may make non-recoverable Grants to a Farmer who-

(a)

has a Primary Industry of a type or condition approved by the Minister from time to time, which is located in a Region, District, or area approved by the Minister from time to time, and that Primary Industry is in financial difficulty and is not producing sufficient income to meet essential living expenses, and

(b)

has no significant income other than from the Primary Industry, and

(c)

(revoked)

(d)

has no assets unconnected with the Primary Industry which it would be practicable to realise.

18.3

The approvals of the Minister for the purposes of clause 18.2 (a) and clause 18.6 in force at the commencement of this programme are set out in Schedule 1.

18.3A

(revoked)

18.4

For the purposes of this Part the definition of "Cash Assets" in clause 3.1 does not apply and the following definition is substituted:

"Cash Assets", in relation to any person, mean assets of that person and his or her spouse or partner (if any) that can be readily converted into cash and include-

(a)

shares, debentures, bonus bonds, and other bonds;

(b)

bank accounts, including fixed and term deposits with any bank, friendly society, credit union, or building society;

(c)

money invested with or lent to any bank or other financial institution;

(d)

the net equity held in any property or land not used as the person's home (except that the net equity in the Primary Industry, as defined in this clause, is not to be included in the Applicant's Cash Assets in relation to an application for a Grant under this Part);

(e)

building society shares;

(f)

mortgage investments and other long term loans;

(g)

bills of exchange or promissory notes;

(h)

the Applicant's share in any partnership;

but do not include-

(i)

the motor vehicle principally used by the Applicant for his or her personal use;

(j)

a caravan, boat, or other vehicle-

(i)

the net equity in which is less than $2,000; or

(ii)

which is used by the person or a member of his or her Immediate Family for day to day accommodation;

(k)

the personal effects of the person and his or her spouse or partner (if any);

(l)

the proceeds from the sale of capital pastoral stock (whether held or not held in any of the assets in paragraphs (b), (c), (f) or (g) of this definition);

(m)

any payment or item declared not to be cash assets by Part 1 of Schedule 8 of the Social Security Regulations 2018

18.5

For the purposes of this Part-

"District", unless otherwise stated, has the meaning in the Local Government Act 2002;

"Farmer" means-

(a)

a person who derives his or her principal income directly or indirectly from a Primary Industry and has a history of so doing; or

(b)

a person who intends to so derive his or her income but the Primary Industry is in the developmental stage;

income, in relation to a person, includes-

(a)

the income of his or her spouse or partner (if any); and

(b)

any New Zealand superannuation or veteran's pension received by any of the person and his or her spouse or partner (if any).

"Primary Industry" includes, but is not limited to, the primary production of meat, wool, or dairy products, arable farming, aquaculture, horticulture, viticulture, forestry, sharemilking, an orchard, apiculture, herb or flower growing, a market garden, and poultry farming but does not include hobby farming;

"Region", unless otherwise stated, has the meaning in the Local Government Act 2002.

18.6

Grants may not be made under clause 18.2 for more than a period of 1 year or the appropriate period approved by the Minister, whichever is the lesser, commencing on the earlier of-

(a)

the date of the approval; or

(b)

a date (if any) specified by the Minister for the purpose in the approval under clause 18.2 (not being a date prior to the declaration of adverse climatic event or natural disaster or biosecurity incursion made by the Minister for Primary Industries in respect of the Region, District, or area concerned)

18.6A

(revoked)

18.6B

(revoked)

18.6C

(revoked)

18.7

If the Minister has extended the application of this Part in relation to a district, region, or an area for a further period, on application made by the Farmer MSD may in its discretion, make Grants under this Part for up to that extended period if, after conducting a review of the Farmer's circumstances, MSD considers the personal circumstances of the Farmer justify such Grants being made.

18.8

The maximum amount of Grants under this Part are-

To a person who is in a relationship with one dependent child

the applicable rate of jobseeker support diminished by $1 a week for every $1 a week of that person's weekly income which is more than $160 a week.

To a person who is in a relationship with 2 or more dependent children

the applicable rate of jobseeker support diminished by $1 a week for every $1 a week of that person's weekly income which is more than $160 a week.

To a person who is in a relationship without dependent children

the applicable rate of jobseeker support diminished by $1 a week for every $1 a week of that person's weekly income which is more than $160 a week.

To a sole parent with one dependent child

the applicable rate of jobseeker support diminished by $1 a week for every $1 a week of that person's weekly income which is more than $160 a week.

To a sole parent with 2 or more dependent children

the applicable rate of jobseeker support diminished by $1 a week for every $1 a week of that person's weekly income which is more than $160 a week.

To a single person with no dependent children

the applicable rate of jobseeker support diminished by $1 a week for every $1 a week of that person's weekly income which is more than $160 a week.

Definitions in a relationship, income, MSD, partner, single, sole parent, spouse, Social Security Act 2018, Schedule 2