Kia niwha te ngaakau ki ngaa mahi atawhai i te iwi

E te iwi e, kia mataara! Naa te pikinga ake o ngaa tatauranga Kowheori i te rangi nei, me tuupato taatou katoa! Kaua e hookeka, heoi, me mataara. Kia kaha tonu taatou ki te whai i te werohanga rongoaa aarai mate kia haumaru ai taatou katoa.

With 45 new cases announced today, Kiingi Tuheitia urges whaanau to continue to follow the alert level rules in their region. Taamaki continues to bear the brunt of the Delta outbreak, and although most of today's cases are household members or known contacts of existing cases, it is still a monumental jump from only eight cases yesterday. Kiingi Tuheitia knows this will be sobering news to our Taamaki whaanau, and encourages everyone to reach out to any whaanau living in the city to make sure they are coping with the continued lockdown measures. Finally, Kiingi Tuheitia continues to encourage unvaccinated whaanau to make plans to get the jab. This is still the best way to protect ourselves and our whaanau, and the quickest way to see restrictions eased.

Yesterday, the government asked all Taamaki residents who have returned to work under Alert Level 3 to get a COVID-19 test, even if they are not showing symptoms. In particular, the focus is on people who are working in construction, hospitality, and retail. Anyone who fits this category does not have to self-isolate while waiting for a test result. While this is not compulsory testing, it is part of the Government’s plan to increase surveillance testing to better understand if COVID-19 is spreading in the community.  

In Tauranga, whaanau are on high alert as they wait to find out more about a positive wastewater sample that was reported yesterday. Health officials are urging people to get tested if they have symptoms or have been to any of the locations of interest in Tauranga, Waikato, Taamaki, or Upper Hauraki.  

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. 

Key updates

• There have been 53 new cases of COVID-19 in the Auckland community since our last paanui, including 45 today. Twelve of the new cases remain unlinked.
• This takes the total cases linked to this outbreak to 1178.
• There are 14 cases in hospital, four of whom are in intensive care. 
• There was a positive wastewater result detected in Tauranga. Investigation into this test continues. 
• There are still restrictions around crossing the Alert Level boundaries, including a negative COVID-19 test when you are leaving the Auckland region for elsewhere. Click here for more. 
• 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.

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 vaccination busses, 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 now receive the vaccine. For more information on how to make a booking for 12-15-year-olds please click here.  

Waikato - Koiora Mobile Vaccination Clinic 

• Thursday 30 September: Melville High School, 6 Collins Road, Deanwell, Hamilton
• Friday 1 October Inghams (Te Aroha), 624 Waihekau Road, Ngarua

Raukura Hauora o Tainui Vaccination Clinic 

• Thursday 30 September: Pirongia Memorial Hall, 997 Franklin Street, Pirongia 
• Friday 1 October: Kio Kio United Sports Club, 135 Paewhenua Road, Otorohanga 

Te Papanui Trust Vaccination Clinic 

Tāmaki Makaurau - Shot Cuz Vaccination Bus

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

• Manurewa Marae
• Waipareira Trust
• Huakina Trust 
• Ngāti Whātua 

Walk-in or drive-in vaccination clinics

The Māori-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, Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm, Sat: 8am-12pm
• Takanini Vaccination Centre, 98 South Rd, Takanini 

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).