Whiitiki whakatika raa, e te iwi! Kia mataara tonu, kei te horapa haere te ngarara terepaa ki waenganui i a taatou. Me uu tonu taatou ki ngo taatou ture whakahaumaru e ora pai ai taatou. Me kaha te manaaki ki ngoo taatou hapori. Kia kaha hoki taatou ki te akiaki i ngoo tataou whaanau ki te whai i te rongoaa aarai mate kia haumaru ai taatou katoa.  

Most of the Waikato-Tainui region woke up in Alert Level 3 with Waipaa, Waitomo, and Ootorohanga joining Taamaki and Waikato at the heightened lockdown level. Kiingi Tuheitia renews his call for all whaanau to do the right thing: keep following the guidelines, and go out and get vaccinated.

During the first wave of COVID-19, Maaori across the motu came together with authorities to stand up iwi borders that actively safeguarded our communities. Delta is a different enemy. The government has changed up its response to meet the new challenges of the Delta variant. Now, Maaori need a new strategy. A strategy that calls on the ingenuity that built the trenches at Rangiriri, that inspired the crossing of vast oceans, proving once again that Maaori will buck the trend. Every time we’ve faced adversity, we’ve put our people first and protected their wellbeing. Vaccination is the best weapon to fight Delta and ensure the safety of our people.   

The risk to our Maaori community is increasing every day, and the problem is threefold. Firstly, we are already at greater risk of the adverse effects of COVID-19 compared to other demographics. Secondly, we continue to have the lowest rate of vaccination. Of the eligible Maaori population, only 58% have received their first dose, compared to 74% of Pasifika and 81% of the Paakehaa populations. Thirdly, Delta IS active in our communities. Maaori have recorded the highest number of new Delta cases nine times out of the past 10 days. The numbers paint a bleak picture:

• Maaori make up 27 of the 44 new cases today 
• Maaori make up 41.9% (176 of 420) of the new cases during Alert Level 3
• Maaori cases are 22.2% (332 of 1,492) of all Delta cases (yet only 16.7% of the population)
• Maaori are the highest number of new cases by ethnicity since 14 September 
• Maaori cases passed the combined total for all Paakehaa, Asian, and MELAA cases on 30 September 

The vulnerability of our people follows global trends where poorer communities carry the most significant risk and are less likely to have been vaccinated. We know from these trends that Delta seeks out these communities, and once it enters, it rapidly spreads, it doesn’t discriminate, and it is the unvaccinated who face the deadliest consequences.

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 are 44 new community cases of COVID-19 today, 41 in Taamaki and three in Waikato.
• This takes the total cases linked to this outbreak to 1,492.
• Twelve of the new cases are not yet linked to existing cases. This brings the total of unlinked cases over the past 14 days to 26. All cases in Waikato are linked. 
• There are 25 cases in hospital (one of these in Waikato) and five in intensive care. 
• Waikato's Alert Level 3 boundary has extended further south - check the map below for more details, or click here to check your address on the COVID-19 website.
• 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 

• 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.

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.

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.

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).