Important Covid 19 Information
Marae update - 04 November 2021
/ Categories: Marae News, Covid-19

Marae update - 04 November 2021



Amohia ake te ora o te iwi, ka puta ki te whei ao!

Kiingi Tuheitia encourages whaanau to keep following all of the lockdown guidelines as we continue to see new cases of COVID-19 in our communities. Over the past week, there have been more than 100 new cases recorded every day and most of them have been in the Tainui rohe. While vaccination is the best protection, Kiingi Tuheitia also urges whaanau to keep doing the simple things well – wear a face covering if you go out, scan in wherever you go, and keep washing your ringaringa.

We are bracing ourselves for case numbers to continue to grow. We know that Maaori are playing catch up with our vaccination rate, but considering the marginalisation, discrimination and racism our people have faced over generations, it is satisfying to see the number of vaccinated Maaori whaanau growing. Kiingi Tuheitia wants to see this trend continue, in the hopes of closing the gap between Maaori and non-Maaori before it's too late. 

Maaori vaccination rates have come a long way since the beginning of October. This time last month only about 55 percent of Maaori had received their first dose of the vaccination. A month later 72 percent of Maaori people have had the first dose of COVID-19 vaccination. While there is an enormous job ahead to collectively lift the number to 90 percent double dose vaccination, we want to pause and mihi to our Maaori health providers, DHBs, and whaanau who have been working hard to encourage whaanau to get vaccinated. It is great to see that the majority of Maaori have had the first dose. Te Whata has just released a new tool that shows the Maaori vaccination rates across the motu. Click here to have a look and see how much more encouragement your community needs.  

The vaccination is the best way to build immunity for our hapori and help shield our kaumaatua, our babies, and our whaanau with health conditions from the severity of COVID-19. As always there are opportunities within this paanui for whaanau to get vaccinated. At all these clinics there are people who can answer any questions and talk through the process.

Kia kaha tonu taatou ki te whai i ngaa tikanga haumaru, ki te kaainga, ki aa taatou mirumiru hoki. Remember to wear your masks, wash your hands, and stay at home as much as possible. 

Key updates

  • Today, there are 139 new community cases of COVID-19, 136 in Taamaki, two in Waikato and one in Te Tai Tokerau. 
  • Of today's cases, 65 are Maaori. 
  • This takes the total cases linked to this outbreak to 3,871.
  • Forty-eight of today's cases are unlinked, taking the total of unlinked cases in the past fortnight to 441.
  • There are 64 cases in the hospital including five in ICU/HDU. 
  • Last night the ministry announced the death of a person who had Covid-19 and was isolating at home in Taamaki. The cause of death is being investigated.  
  • A positive wastewater result was detected in Raahui Pookeka. There are currently no known COVID-19 cases in the area. Anyone with symptoms should get a test.
  • Cabinet has made an in-principle decision to move Taamaki to level three, step two from next Tuesday 9 November at 11:59pm.
  • The government has announced a 90% full vaccination target to move to a new COVID-19 Protection Framework.
  • Taamaki will come out of lockdown and move to the new framework when this target is met by its three DHBs. 
For tribal members who are in need of urgent help please call us on 0800 TAINUI. Our tribal leaders will be sharing updates about supports directly from our Facebook page, so please visit us there too.

Taamaki Whaanau 

 

We know our Taamaki whaanau have experienced a longer lockdown than others, so we want to collate as much information about the needs of our Taamaki whaanau so our response can be coordinated. Click on the link below to fill in the survey and if you have any paatai please call 0800 TAINUI.

Taamaki Whaanau Survey

Vaccinations 

  • Anyone over the age of 12 can book their vaccination now at Book My Vaccine
  • A number of vaccination buses, drive-through and walk-in vaccination clinics are popping up across the motu including those listed below.
Microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles and artist Ladi6 talk about vaccine effectiveness. The Pfizer vaccine is highly effective if people have both doses. Find out more here

Walk-in vaccination clinics

The following is a list of walk-in clinics run by the Waikato DHB and their providers. No need to book - just check the schedule below and drop in. Otherwise, you can book by visiting Book My Vaccine and selecting the closest clinic to you, or by calling 0800 28 29 26. The DHB will be adding more dates and locations here as they firm up their schedules. You can also be vaccinated at a range of other locations across Waikato, including GPs and pharmacies. See Healthpoint for those options
Kirikiriroa
Hamilton Bridge Club car park
20 Richmond Street, Whitiora
1-5 Nov 
9am-1pm

Settlement Centre car park
Boundary Road, Hamilton
Friday 5 November
12pm-6pm

Pak n Save
Mill Street 
Friday 5 November
10am-12pm

Raglan Rugby Club
Park Drive Raglan 
Saturday 6 November
10am-3pm  

Pak'n'Save
Clarence Street, Hamilton
Friday 5 November
1-3pm

The Warehouse Hillcrest
265 Clyde Street 
Saturday 6 November
9am-3.30pm
 
Ootorohanga 
Honikiwi Hall
6 Turoto Road, Honikiwi
Friday 5 November
8am-11am

Otewa Hall
Otewa Road, Otewa
Friday 5 November
1pm-3pm
North Waikato
Waahi Whaanui Trust
17 Parry Street, Huntly
1-5 November
10am-3pm
Waitomo
Bennydale Rugby Club
Mine Road, Bennydale
Saturday 6 November
9.30am-12pm

South Waikato
Kiwi Lumber
102 Domain Road, Putaruru 
Friday 5 November
3.30pm-5pm

Te Kuiti Paa
Awakino Road
Saturday 6 November 
1-4pm

Waipa
Raleigh Street Christian Centre
24 Raleigh Street, Leamington
Friday 5 November
1-7pm
 

COVID-19 testing centres 

Extra testing sites have been established throughout the motu. Visit Health Point to find the closest site for you and your whaanau. 

Me maumahara! 
  • Tests are free (unless part of international travel conditions).
  • Take your contact details with you (NHI numbers are helpful but not absolutely necessary).
  • You can take a support person but you should both stay in your vehicle unless directed otherwise. 
  • You need to isolate at home after your test until you receive a negative result.
Kirikiriroa 
Claudelands Event Centre
Claudelands, Hamilton
10am-6pm until further notice
 

Lake Hakanoa
Huntly Domain, Park Ave 
Tuesday 3 November
10am-3pm

Walk-in or drive-in vaccination clinics

The Maaori-led operated vaccination centres are:

  • Henderson Vaccination Centre, 28 Catherine Street, Henderson 
  • Taamaki (Glen Innes) Vaccination Centre, 261 Morrin Road, St Johns 
  • Manurewa Vaccination Centre, 81 Finlayson Avenue, Clendon Park, Manukau City 
  • Pukekohe Vaccination Centre 6 Roulston Street, Pukekohe
  • Takanini Vaccination Centre, 8 Great South Rd, Takanini 
  • Papakura Marae Drive Through Vaccination Centre, 29 Hunua Road, Papakura

Taamaki Makaurau - Shot Cuz Vaccination Bus

For information on where the vaccination buses will be, check out the Facebook pages of these provider partners:

COVID-19 testing centres 

Extra testing sites have been established throughout the motu. Visit Health Point to find the closest site for you and your whaanau. 

Me maumahara! 
  • Tests are free (unless part of international travel conditions).
  • Take your contact details with you (NHI numbers are helpful but not absolutely necessary).
  • You can take a support person but you should both stay in your vehicle unless directed otherwise. 
  • You need to isolate at home after your test until you receive a negative result.
Papakura Marae POP-UP Testing Centre
29 Hunua Road, Papakura
Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm


Ootara Town Centre Car Park
14 Fair Mall, Ootara, Auckland
Mon-Fri 6:30am-4:00pm
Sat-Sun 8:30am-4.00pm

Turuki Maangere POP-UP Community Testing Centre
Cnr Canning & Mascot Avenue, Maangere
Mon-Sat 9am-4pm
Sun 9am-3pm

Pukekohe Netball Centre POP-UP Community Testing Centre
114 Queen Street, Pukekohe
Mon-Sun 8:30am-3:30pm
Takanini POP-UP COVID-19 Testing Centre
Bruce Pulman Park,
90 Walters Road, Takanini
Mon-Sun 8:30am-4pm

The Whaanau Ora Community Clinic
25 Druces Road, Wiri, Auckland
Mon-Sun 6:30am-8pm

Mountfort Park Manurewa POP-UP Community Testing Centre
Car Park Manurewa Pool & Leisure Centre, Manurewa
Mon-Sat 9am-2pm

Walter Massey Park POP-UP COVID-19 Community Testing Centre 
Hain Avenue
Mon-Sat 9am-4pm
Sun 9am-3pm
Resurgence Support Payment
Last week, Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced that the Resurgence Support Payment (RSP) will be doubled as of 12 November, and paid fortnightly instead of on the current three-weekly schedule. The RSP will now be available at a rate of $3000 plus $800 per FTE, up to a maximum of 50 employees. To date, 70% of applications for the RSP have been from Taamaki businesses, while Waikato is the next highest area at 10%. 

The enhanced RSP will be available until Taamaki moves into the new framework, and the wage subsidy will be available as long as areas of the country are still at Alert Level 3.

New fund for Auckland businesses
Minister Robertson also announced a $60 million fund for business advice and mental health support for Auckland businesses, delivered through the Regional Business Partner Framework. Businesses will be able to apply for up to $3000 worth of advice and planning support, and a further $4000 to implement that advice. They will no longer need to offer a matching contribution. Ten million dollars of the fund will be set aside for mental health and wellbeing support.

Transition support for business under new framework
Details of support available under the new COVID-19 Protection Framework are still being finalised, but there is a possibility that support will not be available to businesses that choose not to participate in the vaccination certificate system.
The newly unveiled COVID-19 Protection Framework will rely on a combination of high vaccination rates, vaccination certificates and public health measures to minimise the spread of the virus, allowing schools to remain open and most businesses to continue operating at each setting - and increased freedoms for fully vaccinated people.
 
By now we are all used to scanning in when visiting shops, restaurants and other public places, as well as keeping a spare mask in our cars. These measures will still be necessary under the new framework. Most importantly, the vaccination certificate will be the magic ticket that allows businesses to keep operating, with increasing restrictions at each setting for events, hospitality, gyms and close contact businesses who choose not to participate in this system.
 
The government has signalled for some time now that vaccinated New Zealanders will enjoy greater freedoms, and the new framework confirms that it is crunch time for those of our whaanau who remain unvaccinated. Simply put, without a vaccination certificate, you will miss out on everyday things – things like visiting bars and restaurants, getting a haircut, going to the gym and attending concerts, festivals and sports games. This mandate will apply to customers and clients of these businesses, as well as their staff. 
 
The new framework is not being introduced overnight. Looking at examples from countries around the world, our government is taking things slowly as they transition Aotearoa from our elimination framework to this new protection framework – and they have set a clear target to have 90% of the eligible population vaccinated within every DHB across the country before the transition will take place. To acknowledge the immense effort of our whaanau in Taamaki, this region will transition to the new framework (on the Red setting) once all three DHBs (Auckland, Counties Manukau and Waitemataa) reach that 90% target. Current modelling suggests that this could be before Christmas – a huge incentive for our Taamaki whaanau to make sure they receive both doses as soon as possible.

Tangihanga

We know that tangihanga are particularly complicated during lockdown situations and we have put together this Tangihanga Process chart to provide information for whaanau on the appropriate guidelines to follow under Alert Level 4. For tangihanga at Alert Level 3, we encourage whaanau to act as though they are at Alert Level 4 and follow the above tangihanga process. We acknowledge that tangihanga under lockdown conditions is extremely hard on whaanau. 

As part of this process, please also remember the following:
  • If your loved one has died from COVID-19 then it will be critical for the Police and/or Health Provider to support you with information on what to do next.  
  • If your loved one has died from an unknown cause, a post-mortem will need to be undertaken. The Police will facilitate this process and will liaise directly with whaanau.
  • A GP or Medical Practitioner will also need to complete the death certificate.
  • Any whaanau wanting to make burial arrangements for Taupiri Maunga urupaa must contact Mr Tumate Mahuta on 0800 TAINUI (0800 824 684).
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