28 February 2021

Kia ora koutou katoa,

The Prime Minister has announced a rise in COVID-19 Alert Levels. From 6am today (Sunday 28 February) Auckland will move to Alert Level 3 for at least 7 days. The rest of the country will move to Alert Level 2. 

This means for those in Auckland:

• Staying home
• Not traveling out of the Auckland region
• Wearing a face mask/covering and maintaining physical distancing if you have to go out
• Working from home if possible – businesses that require close physical contact can’t operate
• Getting children to learn at home if possible
• Restricting gatherings to no more than 10 people at wedding services, funerals, and tangihanga
• Washing hands
• Using the NZ COVID Tracer app.

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 about getting tested.

More information on Alert Levels, including restrictions/exemptions on travel to and from Auckland can be found on the COVID-19 website.

Hopefully these restrictions will not need to be in place for long. If we all follow the rules we can beat this.

Financial support for businesses

Financial support is available for businesses as we face the restrictions that come with higher COVID-19 Alert Levels. More information can be found here.

Looking after yourselves and each other

Going into higher alert levels, especially in Auckland can be stressful. 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.

We've got past these situations quickly before. If everyone follows the rules we can do so again. In the meantime take care of yourselves, your families, loved ones, and wider communities.

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