COVID-19 update 15 October

Office of Ethnic Communities COVID-19 update

15 September 2021

Kia ora koutou katoa,

Saturday 16 October is 'Super Saturday', New Zealand's national day of action for vaccination.

If you haven’t had your COVID-19 vaccination yet, tomorrow is the perfect day. Vaccine clinics will be open all over the country, all day and into the evening.

You won't need an appointment in many locations so getting your first, or second jab will be very easy.

A list of walk-in and drive through vaccination centres is available on the COVID-19 website.

This last week has shown that getting vaccinated has never been more important. Auckland, parts of Waikato and, Northland have had to remain at Alert Level 3 while case numbers continue to fluctuate.

Getting everyone vaccinated will help us get back to a more normal life. It will help our economy and allow us more freedoms, including being able to travel and welcome visitors from overseas. Most importantly it will help keep us safe.

Here in Aotearoa New Zealand we are lucky that pandemics like this one are rare. We have also been in the privileged position of having a relatively low number of cases and few deaths. It is easy to forget how dangerous COVID-19 can be.

Please get vaccinated if you have not got round to it yet, and encourage your friends, families and communities to do the same.

Over 60 per cent of New Zealanders aged 12 and over are now fully vaccinated. Over 80 per cent have had at least one dose. Together we can keep those numbers rising.

If getting vaccinated on Super Saturday is not convenient, people can still book an appointment on another day, either online or by calling 0800 28 29 26. This phone line has interpreters.

Where to get more information

The covid19.govt.nz website remains the central source of information and updates on COVID-19. It includes comprehensive information translated into multiple languages.

We are here to help

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 info@ethniccommunities.govt.nz

Take care of yourselves, your families and loved ones.

Ngā mihi nui,

Mervin Singham
Chief Executive, Ministry for Ethnic Communities

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