Amohia ake te ora o te iwi, ka puta ki te wheiao!
 
Whiitiki whakatika raa, e te iwi! Teeraa tonu te taniwha Kowheori Terepaa kua whai taunga ki roto i too taatou rohe, e hoki ki oo taatou kaainga kia taawharautia ai taatou e ngaa ture whakahaumaru. Ki te tuutakarerewa taatou, ka patua e taatou te mate nei. Noo reira, me ngaakau niwha, me manawa tiitii. Ko ngaa manaakitanga o te Waahi Ngaro ki a taatou katoa.

Kiingi Tuheitia in the spirit of kotahitanga has made a joint announcement alongside Taa Tumu Te Heuheu and Tumuaki Anaru Thompson on the importance of the COVID vaccine, to help protect our whakapapa and our people.  With this announcement are paanui about events occuring this week to support whaanau to understand more about the vaccine and to get vaccinated.

Yesterday the news was shared that members of a whaanau in the Whakatiiwai/Kaiaua region had  tested positive for COVID-19.  Two of these whaanau members who tested positive is a pupil at Mangatangi School and one is believed to have been at school whilst infectious.  Pop-up testing stations have been set up at Mangatangi School and at Wharekawa Marae.  

Today's announcement sees Auckland shift to Alert Level 3 from 11:59pm on Tuesday 21 September.  Whaanau are being asked to strictly adhere to your bubbles and to keep these small.  Bubbles can only be extended if there are exceptional reasons for it, like the inclusion of isolated whaanau members.  The rest of New Zealand will remain at Level 2 however gathering numbers have been increased from 50 to 100 people. 

The announcement also includes a Section 70 notice for the Whakatiiwai region with an order from the Director of Health for those who are from this region, or who have visited to stay at home for the next 5 days.  This will be reviewed on Friday 24 September.

The Prime Minister has encouraged all kaumaatua over the age of 65 who are not yet vaccinated in the Auckland area to be extra vigilant and to stay home until they have had their vaccinations. Experts are also concerned at the lower than ideal levels of testing and encourage all whaanau in locations of interest or who are showing any of the signs of COVID to get tested as soon as possible.

Kia kaha tonu taatou ki te whai i ngaa tikanga haumaru a rohe. Remember to keep following the rules of your rohe.

Key updates

• Taamaki will move to Alert Level 3 on Tuesday 21 September at 11:59pm.
• The rest of the motu will remain at Alert Level 2 but gathering limits will increase from 50 to 100.
• There are 22 new cases of COVID-19 today, these include 19 cases in Auckland and 3 from Whakatiiwai (announced yesterday).
• A section 70 notice has been put in place by the Director of Health for the area around the Whakatiiwai location of interest.  This notice relates to anyone north of Mangatangi. Effectively meaning that anyone living in that region, who works there, or those who have visited the area from the 8th of September are to stay at home.  This notice is in place for the next 5 days. 
• The new cases brings the outbreak to 1,071 cases and 694 have now recovered.
• Two of the new cases are unlinked to the outbreak and are under investigation.
• Sixteen cases are in hospital, and four 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.
• Whakatiiwai and Kaiaua in particular are locations of interest.  Mangatangi School has been closed and is working with Public Health on next steps. A date for the reopening is yet to be announced.
• 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.
• MIQ released 3,000 new spots today for the months of November and December.  27,000 people hotly contested the available spots all of which sold out in 67 minutes.
• There have been no unexpected testing from ESRs latest wastewater testing today.  Following confirmation from the positive cases in northern Hauraki sampling is being undertaken of wastewater from both Kawakawa Bay, Pukekohe, Cambridge, Ngatea and Paeroa.

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.
• Aio Nuku, Aio Rangi is a mass vaccination event that is happening this Saturday 25 September at Hopuhopu Sports Ground in Ngaaruawahia. See below for details.  
• 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).