1 March 2021

Kia ora koutou katoa,

I'm sure it's been a stressful couple of days for everyone, especially those  in Auckland living under Alert Level 3. We all share the frustration because we've got used to living without the current restrictions. However, we have got through this before and we'll do so again. 

To help ensure we can get back to Alert Level 1 as soon as possibe it's vital that we all follow the Alert Level rules. It's a theme the Prime Minister emphasised today. There are also some specific things that people who may have come into contact with the recent community cases should do. 

Please help share these important actions with the communities you work with and represent. The more we can do to spread the word the better. 

Actions for people who may have come into contact with community cases

• Firstly please follow the instructions of health officials - they're doing their jobs
• A list of places in Auckland where people may have come into contact with one of the community cases is available online at health.govt.nz
• If you have visited any of these locations contact Healthline on 0800 611 116 for advice
• If you are asked to stay at home and apart from other people, or get tested for COVID-19, please do so immediately
• While you are waiting for your test result you must also stay at home and apart from other people.

Actions for everyone under Alert Level 3

• Staying home and avoiding unnecessary travel
• Working from home if you can
• Getting children to learn from home if possible
• If you must go out, maintaining a 2-metre distance from others and wearing a face-covering
• Limiting numbers at weddings and funerals to 10 people or less
• Washing your hands regularly
• Turning on Bluetooth and using the COVID-19 Tracer App to keep track of where you’ve been.

For the rest of the country:

• Businesses and schools remain open but public health guidance including physical distancing and record keeping need to be maintained
• Mass gatherings will need to be limited to 100 people
• Hospitality businesses must keep groups of customers separated, seated, and served by a single person with a maximum of 100 people at a time
• Maintaining physical distancing
• Washing hands
• Use the NZ COVID Tracer app
• Wear a face mask/covering if you are in an enclosed space like on public transport.

If you feel ill

• Stay home if you are sick or vulnerable
• If you have COVID-19 like symptoms stay home and call your GP or Healthline on 0800 611 116 for advice
• Symptoms include a fever, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, a runny nose, cough, muscle pain or difficulty breathing.

Information available in other languages

Over the last two days we've created a series of videos in different langauages, covering the key information for people living under Alert Level 3. You'll find them on our Facebook page and Youtube channel. 

We'll also be sharing information via our Multilingual Information Network in the next few days.

Financial support is available

I know that the current situation in Auckland will be causing some people hardship. Financial support is available for people impacted by the recent community outbreak in Auckland.

If people are required to self-isolate and can’t work from home, they should talk to their employer about the support they may be able to get from Work and Income. This support includes:

• Short-Term Absence Payment
  If an employee cannot work from home while waiting for their COVID test result, an employer can apply for a one-off $350 payment to ensure they still get paid. This payment is also available for self-employed people.
   
• Leave Support Scheme
  If an employee cannot work from home while self-isolating, their employer can apply for the Leave Support Scheme. It’s paid as a lump sum to employers and covers two weeks per eligible employee at the rates of $585.80 for each employee working 20 hours or more a week and $350 for each employee working less than 20 hours a week. 
   
• Wage Subsidy and Resurgence Support Payment
  If a workplace has been impacted by the alert level changes, the employer can apply for the wage subsidy and the resurgence support payment to help cover wages.

More information is available at the Work and Income website.

Looking after yourselves and each other

Any change in Alert levels tends to be stressful. Please encourage your communities to reach out for support if they need it. Information on looking after your mental wellbeing can be found on the COVID-19 website.

As ever our regional teams are here to help. If you need to get in touch with us here is a list of our Regional Managers. We would be delighted to talk with you. 

Northern Region (upper North Island)
Nandita Mathur - 027 299 8031

Central (central and lower-North Island)
Kudakwashe Tuwe - 027 213 5972

Southern Region (South Island)
Shane Whitfield – 029 200 4625

If you prefer, you can reach us by email at ethnic.communities@dia.govt.nz.

Let me finish by saying let's be kind and work together. Sadly there's evidence of racist abuse following the move to Alert Level 3. Most Kiwis are friendly and helpful but we can all remember that some communities need extra love and support at the moment.

Please take care of yourselves, your families, loved ones, and wider communities.

Ngā mihi nui
Anusha Guler
Executive Director, Office of Ethnic Communities