Amendment to the Special Needs Grant Welfare Programme Pursuant to section 124 (1) (d) of the Social Security Act 1964, I, Roger Morrison Sowry, Minister of Social Welfare, approve the following amendments to the Special Needs Grant welfare programme (as originally approved on 8 January 1996, and approved by me on 20 December 1996), which are to be considered part of the programme with effect on and from 3 August 1998. Dated this 27th day of July 1998. ROGER SOWRY, Minister of Social Welfare. AMENDMENTS 1. SPECIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE RURAL SECTOR 1.1 The programme is amended by inserting, after clause 20E.3, the following clauses: ``20F Grants to farmers in South Canterbury, North Otago and Gisborne ``20F.1 For the purpose of this programme, ``South Canterbury'' means the areas within the Timaru District, the Waimate District and the MacKenzie District described in the Schedule: ``North Otago'' means the Waitaki District, and the areas within the Central Otago District and Dunedin City described in the Schedule: and ``Gisborne'' means an area within the Gisborne District described in the Schedule. ``20F.2 Drought affected farmers in South Canterbury, North Otago and Gisborne are eligible for financial assistance under this Part as if clause 20C.1 applies to them. ``20F.3 In relation to such farmers, this Part comes into effect on 3 August 1998 and ceases to apply on 31 March 1999, unless extended by the Minister. ``20F.4 For the purposes of assisting such farmers under this Part, clause 20C.2 does not apply.'' Schedule 1. For the purpose of the definition of South Canterbury, (a) The relevant area within Timaru District is the area from the Opihi River south to the Timaru District boundary: (b) The relevant area within Waimate District is the coastal plains and the area inland between the Waihao and Waitaki rivers including the Hakataramea Valley: and (c) The relevant area within MacKenzie District is the area to the north and west of the Te Ngawai river, leading to and including the Fairlie basin. 2. For the purpose of the definition of North Otago, (a) The relevant area within Central Otago District is the Maniototo Basin, the Ida Valley and the Manuherikia Valley: and (b) The relevant area within Dunedin City is Strath Taieri and the Waikouaiti Coast. 3. For the purpose of the definition of Gisborne, the relevant area within the Gisborne District is the area south of a line from Tolaga Bay, west to the District boundary. Explanatory Note: This note is not part of the welfare programme but is intended to indicate its general effect. These amendments, approved by the Minister of Social Welfare under section 124 (1) (d) of the Social Security Act 1964, amend the welfare programme approved by the Minister on 8 January 1996 relating to special needs grants. The amendments to the programme are to assist farmers affected by the droughts in parts of South Canterbury, North Otago and Gisborne. The changes to the programme come into force on 3 August 1998.