PARAIRE 14 AKUHATA 2020
Tēnā koutou. Following the re-emergence of community transmission of COVID-19 in Aotearoa and the reinstatement of Alert Level 3 in Auckland and Alert Level 2 in the rest of the country at noon on Wednesday 12th August, your Rūnanga Board and Operations and our partners (Te Iwi o Ngāti Kahu Trust and Te Whare Ruruhau o Meri) have pivoted from recovery back to response. Part of that response is to provide regular information updates and hyperlinks to resources that support our whānau and hapū to:
• Prepare, plan and action tikanga to keep ourselves and others safe;
• Work collaboratively with other whānau, hapū, iwi and agencies to maximise our capacity and the reach and effectiveness of our resources.
• Make informed decisions about, and participate in, our own response and recovery plans as well as those that are evolving nationally, regionally and locally
TE NGARU TUARUA O TE MATE KARAUNA – HAKAHOU O NGĀTI KAHU #1
NATIONAL UPDATE – 5.30PM FRIDAY 14TH AUGUST 2020: This evening, Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, announced that:
1. There is nothing to suggest we need to move to a level 4 lockdown at this stage, so Auckland will remain at Alert Level 3 and the rest of Aotearoa NZ will remain at Level 2 until 11.59Pm on Wednesday 26th August 2020.
2. The Alert Level settings will be reviewed on 21 August 2020, and if, over the next seven days, the perimeter of the latest cluster is found, that will give enough time in the rest of alert level 3 to consider the situation.
3. A decision on moving the rest of the country out of level 2 will be made at the same time as choosing to move levels in Auckland.
4. Construction and hospitality services will continue under the existing level 3 operating protocols.
5. Cabinet does not want Auckland to be in level 3 any longer than is needed to ensure the outbreak is contained.
6. The wage subsidy scheme will be extended nationwide until the end of the level three restrictions and details will be finalised over the weekend.
Watch the PM’s announcement here.
TAMAKI MAKAURAU AND TAITOKERAU MĀORI STAKEHOLDERS’ UPDATE – 6.00PM FRIDAY 14TH AUGUST 2020: The Māori Health Team of the Northern Regional Health Coordination Centre provides daily updates covering three DHBs in the Auckland Region (Auckland, Counties Manukau and Waitemata) and the Northland DHB. In today’s update, they announced:
1. There are 16 testing stations in the Auckland region; an additional Community Testing Centre (CTC) opened at the Mangere Town Centre Carpark today 10am Friday 14 August; click this link to find the closest station to you.
2. There are 21 testing stations in the Northland region; an additional pop-up testing station opened at the old Bowling Club on Matthews Ave in Kaitāia yesterday at 10am Thursday 13 August; click this link to find the closest station to you.
3. Tests processed yesterday in the country (13/8/2020) – 15,703; total processed to that date 524,000.
4. There were 13 new cases in the country confirmed today; the total number of active cases in the country is 48, of which 30 are linked to the South Auckland community outbreak. Read the entire Northern Region update here.
TE HIKU O TE IKA IWI UPDATE – 10.00AM FRIDAY 14TH AUGUST 2020: The Chairs and CEs of the five Iwi (Ngāti Kuri, Te Aupouri, Ngāi Takoto, Te Rarawa and Ngāti Kahu) met to discuss our challenges, threats and opportunities. We will provide more detail once the minute has been received and the main points have been confirmed.
NGĀTI KAHU UPDATE – 6.00PM THURSDAY 13TH AUGUST 2020: Te Rūnanga-ā-Iwi o Ngāti Kahu Board and Operational leaders as well as Te Iwi o Ngāti Kahu Trust and Te Whare Ruruhau Operational leaders met to discuss our plans going forward.
1. CHECKPOINTS: Noted that:
a. Taitokerau Border Control are working with Ngāti Whatua, NZ Police and Defence Force to support the Auckland checkpoints.
b. Checkpoint personnel need adequate training, safety clothing, PPEs, comms equipment, informational material, etc.
2. TESTING: Noted that:
a. In Auckland they are currently only testing symptomatic people as there is a capacity issue.
b. In Kaitāia they are currently testing everyone who wants a test – both symptomatic and asymptomatic.
3. MASKS:
a. Masks are not mandatory but are strongly recommended.
b. Dr John Mutu’s mask video can be viewed online; click this link to view the video.
4. 0800 KAI HAPAI:
a. Calls are to be routed through the Rūnanga office.
b. Ops leaders of Te Rūnanga-ā-Iwi o Ngāti Kahu, Te Iwi o Ngāti Kahu Trust and Te Whare Ruruhau o Meri are developing call and assessment protocols, this will be followed by training of the call receiver(s) before the number goes live.
5. KAI MANAAKI:
a. Due to the Auckland outbreak, we have stopped distributing free food from Auckland, and all kai for distribution will be sourced locally via secure Rūnanga suppliers (PNS, Bells, Whānau Meats, Cavaliers).
b. Cleaning stations and equipment (freezers, etc) are being upgraded at both Hubs.
c. PPEs (masks, gloves, sanitizer) have been ordered for both Hubs and our Marae.
6. ESSENTIAL WORKER AUTHORISATIONS: Authorisations for our essential workers are being updated and refresher training provided.
7. COMMUNICATIONS:
a. Accurate information is being regularly provided to our people via our Ngati Kahu social media platforms, email groups and official website.
b. Republish the Ngāti Kahu Pandemic Plan; click this link to read the Plan.
8. TRACK AND TRACING:
a. The importance of recording the places we visit has been highlighted by this latest outbreak.
b. We can keep a written record, but a more reliable option is to download and use the NZ COVID TRACER APP; click here to watch a video about the app.
c. The importance of recording who visits us has also been highlighted by this outbreak.
d. Again, we can keep a written record but a more reliable option is to apply for and display your own QR code; click here for more information on how to apply for and download a code.
9. MISINFORMATION VS INFORMATION:
a. “Misinformation is such an important issue, especially right now, lives are literally dependent upon it. So I think it's worth us taking time to educate ourselves about it AS an issue.” Tina Ngāti (Ngāti Porou) is an indigenous researcher and scholar, and the author of Kia Mau: Resisting Colonial Fictions. Her work involves advocacy for environmental, Indigenous and human rights. This includes local, national and international initiatives that highlight the role of settler colonialism in issues such as climate change and waste pollution, and which promote Indigenous conservation as best practice for a globally sustainable future. Click here for a selection of her informative analyses on what misinformation is, how and why it is spread amongst Māori, who benefits from it and how to deal with it.
b. “This pandemic will test us as a people and as a nation … to keep public services and clear information open. Dr Rawiri Taonui (Te Hikutū and Ngāti Korokoro, Te Kapotai and Ngāti Paeahi, Ngāti Rora, Ngāti Whēru, Ngāti Te Taonui) is an independent writer, researcher and advisor on Māori, indigenous and inter-cultural human rights, equity, diversity and anti-racism. He was previously a Professor of Māori and Indigenous Studies in the Centre for Indigenous Leadership and Head of the School of Māori Art, Knowledge and Education (Massey University); the first Professor of Indigenous Studies in New Zealand (AUT University); Head of the School of Māori & Indigenous Studies (Canterbury University); and a lecturer in Pacific Studies, Māori Studies and History (Auckland University). Click here for a selection of his informative articles about COVID-19 and Māori.
KO TE AMORANGI KI MUA – KO TE HĀPAI O KI MURI
Nga mihi aroha. Nā,
Ānahera Herbert-Graves
Chief Executive
Te Rūnanga-ā-Iwi o Ngāti Kahu
21A Parkdale Cres, Kaitāia
P O Box 392, Kaitāia 0410
P: 09 4083013
F: 09 4084093
C: 027 6960930
