Ki te kotahi te kaakaho ka whati, ki te kaapuia e kore e whati.

He kura wiwini, he kura wawana, he kura tangihia, he maimai aroha. E rere ana a roimata ki teeraa kua kaawhakina e te ringa kaha o Aituaa. Ko ngaa whakaaro nui ki te whaanau i teenei waa poouri.

Teenaa taatou katoa. Kia mataara tonu e te iwi, kua hoki mai anoo te taniwha terepaa ki waenganui i a taatou, me tuu pokowhiwhi tahi taatou ko ngoo taatou whaanau, ko too taatou hapori whaanui. Maa taatou katoa e kaupare atu i teenei mate. Maa taa taatou whai i ngaa ture whakahaumaru ka ora ai te iwi.

Kiingi Tuheitia asks all Maaori whaanau across the Waikato and Taamaki to be extra vigilant in the coming days. He notes that while the Alert Level 3 rules have been relaxed, many of our people remain unvaccinated and are thus exposed to the deadliest consequences of Delta. Since the move to Alert Level 3 in Taamaki, Maaori have had 100 cases, the highest proportion of the total cases in this period. Maaori also have the lowest vaccination rates across the nation. These two factors make our people extremely vulnerable. With this in mind Kiingi Tuheitia encourages everyone to do the simple things that will keep us safe: stay home, get tested if you have symptoms, wear a mask, wash your hands, scan in and above all, support your whaanau to get the jab. 

Today our second death of the Delta outbreak was reported at Middlemore Hospital. This is a reminder of the severity of COVID-19, and the reason we have been working so hard to stamp it out. The grief of the whaanau pani has been compounded by the fact that the risk of transmission meant they were unable to be with their loved one at the hospital. Kiingi Tuheitia sends them our deepest condolences as they face their loss at this incredibly difficult time.

With the heightened risk of Delta across the Tainui rohe, now is not the time to wait and see what happens. The government is signalling that they are willing to change their strategy and ease lockdown measures while the virus is still active in the community. Protecting our people from the severity of the virus requires action from everyone. As Maaori, we need to come together and put the risk to the community before the risk to ourselves. The vaccination is the best tool we have available to protect others. As a people, we have always understood our duty and responsibility to put others before ourselves. This concept is woven into the rich tapestry of what it means to be Maaori. Now is the time to act. We must put the wellbeing of the collective before our individual wellbeing and get vaccinated. While we appreciate there are concerns and hesitation around the vaccine, we expect people to do their due diligence, read accurate information, and understand that getting the jab is the best and only way to safeguard our people.  

There are more opportunities than ever before to go out and get vaccinated. In this paanui, you will find details of where you can find vaccinations centres near you.

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 have been 54 new cases of COVID-19 in Taamaki since our last paanui, including 30 today. 
• Of these 30 cases, one remains unlinked.
• Nine new cases were reported in Waikato today, bringing the total number of cases in Waikato to 18. All of these  have been linked to known cases.
• This takes the total cases linked to this outbreak to 1,412.
• There are 32 cases in hospital, seven of whom are in intensive care. 
• Waikato has joined Taamaki on Alert Level 3 until at least Friday. The map below shows where Alert Level 3 is in place. Click on it to follow a link to the COVID-19 website where you can check your address. 
• There are still a number of known contacts in self-isolation who may test positive in the coming days.
• 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 buses, 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.  

Walk-in vaccination clinics

The following is a list of walk-in vaccinations run by the Waikato DHB and their providers. No need to book - just check the schedule below and drop in. They are open to everyone eligible for the vaccine.  The DHB will be adding more dates and locations here as they firm up their schedules. Vaccinations are free, safe and the best way to protect the whaanau. You can also be vaccinated at a range of other locations across Waikato, including GPs and pharmacies. See Healthpoint for those options.

Pop-up vaccination clinics

The Waikato DHB pop up testing and vaccinations schedule for this week is as follows:

Raglan - no bookings needed
Raglan Area School
42 Norrie Avenue, Raglan
Tuesday-Friday
9:30am-4pm

Kaawhia - no bookings needed
Maketuu Marae
614 Kia Ora Street
Thursday  7 Oct & Saturday 9 Oct
10am-3pm

New World Glenview
Ohaupo Road, Hamilton
Friday 8 October
9:30am-4pm

Te Ara o Karoro
Nawton Mall, Hyde Avenue, Nawton
Tuesday-Sunday
8am-5pm

Te Papanui Trust Vaccination Clinic 
Te Papanui Trust is opening a walk-in vaccination clinic at the Enderley Community Centre starting on Monday 18 October between 11am and 3pm. 
 
Enderley Community Centre
66 Tennyson Road, Enderley, Hamilton
Mon 18 Oct-Thu 21 Oct
Mon 15 Oct-Thu 18 Nov

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

Claudelands Event Centre
Claudelands, Hamilton
8am-8pm until further notice

Te Rapa Racecourse
Raglan Rugby Grounds car park
Cross Street, Raglan
Thurs 7 Oct - Fri 8 Oct  
10am-4:30pm

Founders Theatre car park
Entrance off Norton Road
8am-4pm (7 days a week)


Pop-Up Community Testing - Raglan

Raglan Rugby Grounds car park
Cross Street, Raglan
Thurs 7 Oct - Fri 8 Oct
10am-4:30am

Pop-Up Community Testing - Huntly

Te Whare Oranga
147 Harris Street, Huntly
Thurs 7 Oct - Fri 8 Oct
10am-3pm

Pop-Up Community Testing - Tokoroa

South Waikato Pacific Islands Community Services
1 Maraetai Road, Tokoroa
Tuesday-Thursday
10am-3pm

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, Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm, Sat: 8am-12pm
• Takanini Vaccination Centre, 98 South Rd, Takanini 
• Papakura Marae Drive Through Vaccination Centre Mon-Fri: 8.30am-3pm, 29 Hunua Road
• Manurewa Marae Vaccination Centre, 81 Finlayson Avenue, Clendon Park, Manukau City

Taamaki 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 
• Ngaati Whaatua 

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).