E te iwi, kia mataara. Kua whakawhiti mai te ngaarara Terepaa mai i Taamaki Makaurau. Heoi anoo, kia kaua taatou e keka. Me uu tonu taatou ki oo taatou ture whakahaumaru e ora pai ai taatou. Kia kaha te manaaki i oo taatou hapori huri noa. Noo reira, teenei ngaa mihi o te ngaakau ki a taatou katoa.

Now more than ever Kiingi Tuheitia reminds whaanau that we must all adhere to the alert level restrictions of our region, no matter where we are living. Our whaanau in Taamaki are bearing the brunt of Alert Level 4 restrictions to protect the rest of the motu, and after learning that Delta has crossed the Taamaki border and travelled into the rohe we are mindful of the need for increased awareness. It is crucial that we take extra precautions and remember the golden rules – if you are out and about, wear a face covering, wash and dry your hands regularly, scan in wherever you go, and get vaccinated.  
 
Yesterday, surveillance testing measures at the Taamaki border picked up a truck driver who tested positive for COVID-19 after travelling to Hamilton, Tauranga, and Cambridge. This case highlights the importance of the testing at the boundary, and it shows how easily Delta can slip back into our community. Twenty-seven Foodstuffs workers have been stood down as a precaution after the driver visited several stores in Auckland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty. There are several new locations of interest across these regions. It is important that whaanau check these locations and if necessary, self-isolate and get a test.  
 
The news that Delta has escaped Taamaki is a reminder that the risk of COVID-19 remains very much real. Lockdown measures increase our ability to trace and contain the virus, but they cannot guarantee the safety of our communities alone. We know the best way to protect our whaanau from the severity of the virus is the vaccine. Our Maaori vaccination rates continue to trend much lower than the rest of the population. Many of our Maaori health clinics and non-Maaori clinics across the motu have made it so easy to just walk-in and get the vaccination. The “Shot Bro” buses are reaching into some of our Taamaki communities to make sure everyone can access the vaccine. In the Waikato, next Saturday 25 September at Hopuhopu Sports Ground there will be a mass vax event where whaanau can turn up and get the vaccine. Now is not the time for whaanau to wait to see how things will work out. We need to all take action today, get your vaccine, and do what you can to encourage others.   
 
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.

Key updates

• There are 11 new cases of COVID-19 today, all of which are in Auckland. 
• This brings the outbreak to 1,007 cases and 549 have now recovered.
• Two of the new cases are unlinked to the outbreak and are under investigation.
• Fourteen cases are in hospital, and three of those are in ICU. 
• Locations of interest outside of Taamaki have been added to the list today. These are Waikato, Tauranga and Auckland. We are expecting more to be added to the list in relation to the truck driver who crossed the boundary. The full list of locations of interest is here.
• It is important that whaanau check any new locations. Anyone who visited these locations at the stated date and time must self-isolate, contact Healthline on 0800 358 5453 and get tested. Household members of people who were at locations of interest must also self-isolate until that person has returned a negative test.
• Police have started to check people who are crossing the Taamaki boundary to make sure they have had a test within the past seven days. 
• The Trans-Tasman bubble pause has been extended for a further 8 weeks. 
• Testing continues in seven suburbs of interest: Mount Eden, Massey, Maangere, Favona, Papatoetoe, Ootara and Manurewa. People in these regions are encouraged to go out and get a test. 
• A positive wastewater result was detected in East Auckland, covering Pakuranga, Bucklands Beach and Shelly Park. This positive result from Monday 13 September. Additional testing is underway.

Taamaki whaanau

Vaccinations

• Vaccinations are continuing and anyone with an existing booking should attend their appointment unless notified otherwise, or if they are feeling unwell.
• Anyone over the age of 12 can book their vaccination now at Book My Vaccine. If you live in Taamaki and your booking is not until October, you are encouraged to look at the website again to see if there is an earlier date. 
• A number of drive-through and walk-in vaccination clinics are popping up across the motu including those listed below.
• Efforts are being made to increase vaccination rate of essential workers, prioritising those in customer-facing roles.
• Extensive research and testing has confirmed that the Pfizer vaccine is safe for 12-15-year-olds. This age group can receive the vaccine from 1 September, OR eligible parents (those over 40) can book their children at the same time as themselves. 
• Maaori and Pasifika can book the whole whaanau at one time as soon as one member is eligible. 
• The government assures us that the supply chain is strong and there are enough doses for everyone to be vaccinated.

Walk-in or drive-through vaccinations   

Mobile vaccination  

COVID-19 testing centres 

• 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.

Tangihanga

• 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).