In today's announcement we learned that Waikato will remain at Alert Level 3 until next week, although we will join Taamaki at Step 1, giving whaanau living in the rohe slightly more freedom. This will give us a much-needed opportunity to reconnect with whaanau and friends, although caution is still needed. Kiingi Tuheitia supports the decision to remain at Alert Level 3, with new cases emerging every day and suggesting that the Waikato outbreak is not yet under control.
Over the past few days, Kiingi Tuheitia has been concerned to note that the daily case updates have included information about the average age of hospitalised COVID-19 patients. Today's average age is 43, while the average age over the past fortnight is just 38. When COVID-19 first emerged, it was generally considered to pose the greatest risk to our kaumaatua and whaanau with existing health problems. These figures join with international research to demonstrate yet another way that Delta has changed the rules, with this variant presenting a very real risk to the young and healthy.
There is a very simple way to protect our whaanau from this risk, and that is to raise the vaccination rates in our communities. It is heartening to see these numbers increasing week by week, but there is still a lot of work to be done. The government is aiming for 90% full vaccination before transitioning to the less restricted COVID-19 Protection Framework. Many iwi and Maaori leaders believe that 95% is a safer target for Maaori, given that Delta poses a greater threat to our whaanau. Our King still aspires to that target, wishing to see Maaori break the trend and be disproportionately represented for the right reason. We can all contribute to reaching this goal - by getting vaccinated if we haven't been already, by making sure our second dose is booked in after getting our first, by checking in with friends and whaanau to make sure they've done the same.
This weekend Waikato-Tainui will be hosting our second vaccination event Aio Nuku Aio Rangi. Scroll down to learn more about these events, and set some time aside on Saturday to take your whaanau down to get vaccinated. |
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Key updates
- Today, there are 74 new community cases of COVID-19, 68 in Auckland and six in Waikato.
- Forty of today's cases are Maaori.
- This takes the total cases linked to this outbreak to 2,832.
- Thirty-one of today's new cases are not yet linked to existing cases.
- There are 41 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, although restrictions will relax under Step 1.
- The government has announced a 90% full vaccination target to move to a new COVID-19 Protection Framework.
- High schools will look to reopen in Taamaki on 15 November for years 9 and 10.
- Taamaki will come out of lockdown and move to the new framework when this target is met by its three DHBs.
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Aio Nuku, Aio Rangi Part 2
Aio Nuku, Aio Rangi part 2 is happening this Saturday, 30 October, at Hopuhopu Sports Ground in Ngaaruawaahia and Waddon Place, Maangere Town Centre in Auckland. These are mass vaccination events, and everyone who attends either event to get their first or second dose will receive a $20 fuel voucher and a Waikato-Tainui face mask. There will also be spot prizes, including a trip to Rarotonga valued at $5,000. Other prizes include a BBQ for your marae, apple AirPods, air fryers, vouchers, and much more. |
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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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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. 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. |
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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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| Dr Lily Fraser from Turuki Health Care explains the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccination. For more videos from Dr Lilly click here. |
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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
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Ngaaruawaahia
120 Great South Road
Saturday 29 October
4pm - 8pm
Waipa
Oohaupo Sport & Rec
13 Forkert Road, Ohaupo
Thursday 28 October
10.30am - 2pm |
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Kirikiriroa
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 |
Settlement Centre car park
Boundary Road, Hamilton
Wed 27 - Fri 29 October
10am-3pm
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
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Ootorohanga
Presbyterian Church
Cnr Ranfurly and Turongo Street
Thursday 28 October
10am - 4pm
Tihiroa Hall car park
Te Kawa Road, Ootorohanga
Friday 29 October
12pm-3pm
Honikiwi Hall
6 Turoto Road, Honikiwi
Friday 5 November
8am-11am |
Ootorohanga College
Bledisloe Avenue
Friday 29 October
9am - 11am
Toa Bridge
Otewa Road, Otewa
Friday 5 November
1pm-3pm |
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Waitomo
Maniapoto Netball Pavillion
Te Kuiti Road
Thu 28 Oct & Fri 29 Oct
10am - 3pm |
South Waikato
Station Street car park
6 Station Street, Tirau
Thursday 28 October
10am - 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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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. |
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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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