21 September 2020

Kia ora koutou katoa,

Yesterday the Prime Minister shared the good news that COVID-19 Alert Levels are dropping. Auckland will move to Alert Level 2 at 11:59 pm on Wednesday and the rest of the country is now at Alert Level 1.

For Auckland, gatherings of up to 100 people will be allowed under Level 2, an increase from the current restriction of just 10. The city will remain under these restrictions for a further 14 days with the possibility of dropping down alert levels on 7 October.

Under the new Alert Levels wearing face masks/coverings on public transport will remain compulsory in Auckland but become optional for the rest of the country. Passengers on flights into and out of Auckland will also have to wear face masks/coverings, while it will be encouraged on other flights but not compulsory.

It’s good to feel that, as a country, we’re getting on top of COVID-19 again. When I look at what’s happening in other parts of the world I feel very lucky to live in Aotearoa New Zealand. I know some restrictions remain for our largest city so let’s hope Auckland can join the rest of the country at Alert Level 1 very soon.

The official COVID-19 website remains the place to get the latest information.

Financial support for foreign nationals in New Zealand

While restrictions are easing within the country we know that international travel is still very restricted. It’s meant real difficulties for some people here on temporary visas who cannot easily get home. Support remains available for people in this situation who are experiencing serious financial hardship.

The Red Cross and the Department of Internal Affairs are running the Visitor Care Manaaki Manuhiri programme which delivers assistance to help people on temporary visas meet basic needs, such as food, accommodation, and medical care. More information on what people are eligible for can be found on the COVID-19 website.

I’ve heard stories of people who do not like to ask for help or are worried about being forced out of the country if they come forward. I can understand this but these are exceptional circumstances and the support available is genuine. So please share this with the communities you work with and represent. If people do need help it’s there for them.

Future newsletters

Now that the COVID-19 situation is more stable we’ll be changing our newsletter to cover a broader range of topics. There are lots of things to tell you about and we’d love to showcase things happening in your communities. We will of course keep you updated on COVID-19 news as and when things are announced.

We are here to help

Regardless of Alert Levels, we’re here for you, and please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need help with anything – COVID-19 or otherwise. We’re in regular contact with our colleagues from across Government, sharing your views and ethnic community needs. Below is a list of our Regional Managers.

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

Central (central and lower-North Island)
Natasha Narayan – 027 268 5153

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

You can also contact us by email at ethnic.communities@dia.govt.nz

We’re recruiting

Hopefully, you’ll be familiar with our Regional Managers and their teams. We’ve got some great people and we need more!

We’re recruiting for a number of roles at present, including summer internships. If you’re looking for your next opportunity you can find out more, including the skills and experiences we’re looking for on our Linkedin page or at the Department of Internal Affairs website.

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

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