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Adri Isbister, Deputy Director-General, Disability
Disability Directorate COVID-19 update
10 September 2021
Kia ora koutou katoa
While most of New Zealand is now at Alert Level 2, we are thinking of all of you in the Auckland region who are still at Alert Level 4. Thank you for doing your bit to help protect us all. The best way to protect the community is through vaccination.
It was great to see yesterday the figures showing the number of vaccines administered has passed the 4 million mark. And it’s great to see innovative approaches to vaccination happening, like the drive-up centre at the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, which coincided with Tongan Language Week. This drive-up clinic will also operate over the weekend.
Another innovative approach was featured on Newshub (TV3) last night. The Northern Region Health Coordination Centre outreach team was vaccinating the students and families at Parkside specialist school in Pukekohe – one of 12 specialist schools the Centre is providing outreach to. A few hundred people were vaccinated and the team received great feedback.
Also speaking of vaccines, it was great news this week that the Government has secured further stocks of the Pfizer vaccine, to bolster the supply we already have. That’s the 250,000 doses from Spain to help meet the increased demand and continue the pace of the vaccination programme.
We also love hearing stories about how you have supported people you care for and made it fun for them during lockdown, like the lower North Island’s MASH Trust. MASH Trust made the lockdown fun for its residents by organising baking competitions and other crafts. They used their Facebook page to challenge other community organisations to do the same thing. Great stuff.
Now that we are heading down Alert Levels, we want to reduce the number of items you receive in your inbox. So, we will reduce the frequency of these updates from now on.
Have a great weekend, take care, and thanks for all you are doing.
Nga Mihi,
Adri Isbister
Disability Directorate COVID-19 update 10 September 2021
Today we want to keep you informed of:
· New requirement for testing at Alert Level boundaries
· Face coverings
· Alert Level 2 information and guidance
· Record-keeping
Testing at Alert Level boundaries
Travel is restricted across Alert Level boundaries and is for permitted travel only. From 11.59pm on Thursday 9 September employers of permitted workers must have a process in place for employees travelling across boundaries to get tested. This includes allowing time off work to get tested.
From 11.59pm on Thursday 16 September, all workers who are permitted to cross Auckland boundaries must show proof of having a test taken in the seven days before crossing. Because this is surveillance testing, these people do not need to stay at home while they await their result. There is no cost for workers who get a test for this purpose.
Evidence of workers being permitted to cross a boundary (such as a Business Travel Document) is also required for travel in and out of Auckland.
Wear a face covering
One of the best ways to stop the virus spreading is by using face coverings. This helps protect us all.
Further discussion is underway on cross-sector arrangements for use of face coverings that will be based on sector-wide risk assessment. We will continue to update you and provide this guidance when finalised.
Updated information on face coverings can be found here
Wear a face covering | Unite against COVID-19 (covid19.govt.nz)
Alert Level 2 information and guidance
We have updated our guidance for disability support service providers, and for disabled people and their family and whānau. This includes updated guidance for Delta Alert Level 2. The updated links are below:
Information and guidance on COVID-19 for disability support service providers at different Alert Levels.
COVID-19: Disability support providers | Ministry of Health NZ
Information for disabled people and their family and whānau
COVID-19: Information for disabled people and their family and whānau | Ministry of Health NZ
You can find more information about life at the different Alert Levels on the Unite Against COVID-19 website:
One of the best ways to stop the virus spreading is by using face coverings. This helps protect us all.
Further discussion is underway on cross-sector arrangements for use of face coverings that will be based on sector-wide risk assessment. We will continue to update you and provide this guidance when finalised.
Updated information on face coverings can be found here
Wear a face covering | Unite against COVID-19 (covid19.govt.nz)
Record-keeping
Record-keeping helps speed up contact tracing, and is another way to help stop the spread of the virus. The faster we can trace contacts, the faster we can prevent another outbreak.
You can keep up to date with the current requirements on mandatory record-keeping here
Summary of updated web links
Get more information on essential services on:
Carer support | Ministry of Health NZ
Alert Level 4 guidance for disability community residential care providers | Ministry of Health NZ
COVID-19: Essential services in the health and disability system
COVID-19: Disability support providers | Ministry of Health NZ
COVID-19: Information for disabled people and their family and whānau | Ministry of Health NZ
Alert Level 4 guidance for disability community residential care providers | Ministry of Health NZ
Alert Level 4 | Unite against COVID-19 (covid19.govt.nz)
Easy Read formats
https://covid19.govt.nz/iwi-and-communities/alternate-formats/easy-read/
Re-applying for Business Travel Documents
For personal travel across an alert level boundary, please go to Unite Against COVID
Business travel across Alert Level Boundaries — business.govt.nz
National PPE and critical medical supply chain
COVID-19: Personal Protective Equipment Central Supply | Ministry of Health NZ
Additional Supports
Key Disability Directorate contacts
If you need to speak to someone, these are the contact details for those in the Disability Directorate.
Provider streams/service types:
Disability Information and Advisory Services, Needs Assessment Service Co-ordination, and Needs Assessment Service Co-ordination Association
Doug Funnell doug.funnell@health.govt.nz
National Intellectual Disability Secure Services, Regional Intellectual Disability Support Accommodation Services, Intellectual Disability (Compulsory Care & Rehabilitation) Act.
Amanda Smith amanda.smith@health.govt.nz
General Manager Operations
Amanda Bleckmann amanda.bleckmann@health.govt.nz
Residential, Contract Board, Foster Care and Respite
Viv Ruth, viv.ruth@health.govt.nz
Home and Community Support and Supported Living
Martin Anderson, martin.anderson@health.govt.nz
Individualised Funding and Personal Budget Hosts, Day Services and MSD (Ministry of Social Development) contact
Christy Richards, christy.richards@health.govt.nz
Child Development Services and Autism Developmental Coordination
Ondine Claridge, ondine.claridge@health.govt.nz
Equipment and Modification Services
Cath Williams, catherine.williams@health.govt.nz
Vision and Hearing Services
Sarah Payne, sarah.payne@health.govt.nz
Key Stakeholder Groups:
Carers and Carers Alliance
Stuart Parkinson, stuart.parkinson@health.govt.nz
Disabled People Organisations/EGL Governance and Leadership Groups/Human Rights Commission
James Poskitt, james.poskitt@health.govt.nz
Maori Equity, Providers, Te Ao Marama and Whānau Ora interface Group
Noho Williams, nohopuku.williams@health.govt.nz
Pacific Equity, Providers and Favia Ora
Tofa Gush, tofa.gush@health.govt.nz
General Contacts:
Deputy Director General Disability
Adri Isbister, adri.isbister@health.govt.nz
COVID-19 Disability Lead
Rāwā Karetai Wood-Bodley, rawa.karetai@health.govt.nz
General Disability Enquiries
Disability Directorate | Ministry of Health - Manatū Hauora
🏠133 Molesworth Street, Thorndon
✉ disability@health.govt.nz
ℹ health.govt.nz/disability
