This morning’s announcements contained a lot of important information for our whaanau, as we look ahead to a future of Green, Orange and Red settings instead of Alert Levels. 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 today’s announcement confirmed 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.
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. The rest of the country will transition to the Orange setting once all DHBs have hit the target.
Cabinet will meet again on 29 November to review progress towards this goal, and in the meantime will keep assessing the Alert Level settings as the current outbreak progresses. |
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From our King
While these announcements give our vaccinated whaanau something to look forward to, Kiingi Tuheitia reminds us that it is critical we continue to do our part under the current system – stick to the alert level rules, and get vaccinated. We cannot let Maaori make up the majority of the unvaccinated 10% when the country begins to open up and restrictions loosen – because when the vaccinated population begins “living with the virus”, the unvaccinated population will begin to die with it.
As Maaori we have always known that inequities exist for us across all sections of society. Whilst it is heartening that there has been $120 million allocated to the Maaori vaccination effort, our King is worried that it is too little too late. The concerning rise in the daily case numbers this week reflects the spread of Delta within our Maaori communities, as we continue to represent a majority of cases. Since 29 September, Maaori have made up the largest number of positive cases – which is not surprised, as history tells us that our communities have always suffered from the introduced disease. Our kuia, our koroua have memories of this from within their lifetime. Te Puea established Tuurangawaewae as a shelter, as a home for those pani impacted by the influenza pandemic in the early 1900s.
Kiingi Tuheitia acknowledges that our mistrust in the system, our hesitancy around the vaccine, has not just been plucked out of thin air. It has come from generations of our whaanau receiving sub-standard care, being treated inequitably, being placed at the back of a queue by a health system that hasn’t prioritised us or made the effort to understand our specific needs. Things are changing, but this pandemic is moving faster than the health system reforms and yet again as Maaori we are going to have to help ourselves.
With urgency, Kiingi Tuheitia pleads with us to prioritise getting vaccinated. Go today. Take your whaanau. Take our rangatahi. If you know of whaanau who aren’t vaccinated – whether they’re nervous, sitting on the fence, or completely opposed – please rally around them. Take them to a vaccination clinic, get them to speak to one of our Maaori medical experts to help them understand why this is so important. One of our prominent Maaori health professionals Dr Rawiri Jansen summed it up by saying simply: “this is a Paakehaa disease and it requires Paakehaa medicine.”
This is a critical time for Maaori, as we see case numbers rise and accept what we have already known – that we will be more adversely impacted than other ethnicities. Today's announcement also included details of a $120 million package dedicated to raising the Maaori vaccination rates and preparing our communities for the spread of the virus. Waikato-Tainui will be working closely with Te Puni Kōkiri, Te Arawhiti and the Ministry of Health to ensure that we can take advantage of this funding. Kiingi Tuuheitia does not want to see any more of our whaanau get the disease or pass away from it. Amohia ake te ora o te iwi - prioritise the wellbeing of the whaanau, by getting vaccinated today. |
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Key updates
- The government has announced a 90% vaccination (both doses) 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.
- There are 131 new community cases of COVID-19 today, 120 in Auckland, nine in Waikato and two in Northland. Case numbers continue to increase, and each day marks a new record for Aotearoa.
- Fifty-two of today's cases are Maaori.
- This takes the total cases linked to this outbreak to 2,389.
- Sixty-five of today's new cases are not yet linked to existing cases.
- There are 51 cases in the hospital including five in ICU/HDU.
- Auckland will remain at Alert Level 3 until at least Tuesday 2 November. Waikato will remain at Alert Level 3 until at least Wednesday 27 October. Northland has moved to Alert Level 2.
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Resurgence Support Payment
Today the 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. |
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| 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. |
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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.
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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.
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| Our rangatahi learn about the vaccine. |
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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 |
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North Waikato
Waahi Whaanui Trust
Parry Street Complex
Wed 27-Sat 30 October
10am-3:30pm
Te Kauwhata Bowling Club
6 Waerenga Road, Te Kauwhata
Wed 27-Fri 29 October
10am-2:30pm
Ngaaruawaahia
120 Great South Road
Friday 29 October
4pm-8pm
South Waikato
Station Street car park
6 Station Street, Tirau
Thursday 28 October
10am - 3pm |
Ngaaruawaahia
120 Great South Road
Tuesday 26 October
4pm-8pm
Ngaaruawaahia Bowling Club
103 Ellery Street
Wednesday 27 October
10am-3pm
Meremere Hall
21 Heather Green Avenue
Wednesday 27 October
10am-3pm
Arapuni Hall
49 Arapuni Road
Monday 25 October
10am-3pm |
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Kirikiriroa
McDonald's Frankton
24-28 Greenwood Street, Frankton
Tuesday 26 October
10am-3pm
Oomaero Marae
25 Māori Point Road, Whatawhata
Tuesday 26 October
10am-3pm
Hamilton Bridge Club car park
20 Richmond Street, Whitiora
Wed 27 and Thu 28 Oct
10am-3pm
Te Uku Hall
Cnr Matakotea Road & State Highway 23, Te Uku
Thursday 28 October
10am-3pm
Waikato University
Academy & Performing Arts
Knighton Road
Thursday 28 October
10am-2:30pm
Raglan Rugby Club
Park Drive Raglan
Tue 26 - Sat 30 October
10am-3pm |
Matangi Hall
478 Tauwhare Road, Matangi
Tuesday 26 October
10am-3pm
Turangawaewae Marae
River Road
Wednesday 27 October
1pm-6pm
Pak'n'Save Mill Street
Mill Street, Hamilton
Thursday 28 October
10am-3pm
Turangawaewae Marae
River Road
Tue 26, Thu 28, Fri 29 October
10am-2:30pm
Gordonton Hall
1024 State Highway 1B, Gordonton
Friday 29 October
10am-3pm
Settlement Centre car park
Boundary Road, Hamilton
Friday 29 October
10am-3pm |
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Waipa
Te Koopua Marae
213 Morgan Road, Pokuru
Wednesday 27 October
10am-12pm |
Te Rore Hall
5 Allcock Road, Te Awamutu
Wednesday 27 October
1pm-3pm |
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Ootorohanga
Tihiroa Hall car park
Te Kawa Road, Ootorohanga
Friday 29 October
12pm-3pm
Honikiwi Hall
6 Turoto Road, Honikiwi
Friday 5 November
8am-11am |
Toa Bridge
Otewa Road, Otewa
Friday 5 November
1pm-3pm |
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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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