Welcome to the TūHOE blog
COVID-19
COVID-19 ALERT LEVEL CHANGES
For official Government updates please refer to the Covid-19 website
Auckland is now at Alert Level 3, until 11.59pm Sunday 30 August. From Monday 31 August, Auckland will be at Alert Level 2.
- Community transmission might be happening.
- New clusters may emerge but can be controlled through testing and contact tracing.
- If you’re sick, stay home. Don’t go to work or school. Don’t socialise.
- If you have symptoms of cold or flu call your doctor or Healthline and get advice about being tested.
- If you have been told to self-isolate you must do so immediately.
Testing locations in Auckland — get a free test for COVID-19 if you have cold or flu symptoms
Here are the golden rules of Alert Level 3:
- Maintain physical distancing of 2 metres outside your home, including on public transport, when buying the groceries or exercising.
- It is highly recommended that you wear a mask if you are out and about.
- You are encouraged work from home if you can.
- Public venues should close. This includes libraries, museums, cinemas, food courts, gyms, pools, playgrounds and markets.
- Travel should be restricted to permitted movement in your local area.
- You should not travel to another region for recreation or work unless you're an essential worker travelling for work.
- Public transport can continue to operate with strict health and safety requirements. You should maintain physical distancing and wear a mask.
- Where possible we encourage students to learn from home. Schools can safely open but will have limited capacity.
- Only 10 people can gather for wedding services or tanihana
- You can do low-risk recreation activities in your local area
- People at high risk of severe illness such as older people and those with existing medical conditions are encouraged to stay at home where possible
The rest of Aotearoa is now at Alert Level 2, with alert systems being reviewed before Sunday 6 September.
At Alert Level 2 the disease is contained, but the risk of community transmission remains.
- Household transmission could be occurring.
- Single or isolated cluster outbreaks.
Here are a few things you need to know:
- Keep your distance when out and about: 2 metres from people you don't know and 1 metre from people you do know.
- Face coverings are mandatory on public transport. You should wear masks in situations where physical distancing is not possible.
- Events at home and outside of your home can have up to 100 people.
- Many public venues can open. All public venues should keep records to enable contact tracing.
- You can do your usual exercise and recreation activities, provided you can do them safely.
- Businesses can operate if they’re able to do so safely.
- You can travel, but make sure you do it in a safe way.
- It is safe to attend all forms of education. Additional public health measures are in place.
Some key differences will be implemented at Alert Level 2 in the Auckland region. These include:
- At Alert Level 2 in Auckland gatherings will continue to be limited to 10 people.
- Funerals and tangihana will be limited to 50 people, and have to meet other conditions set by the Ministry of Health - Manatū Hauora.
TE UREWERA open AT ALERT LEVEL 2 - WITH SAFETY MEASURES
Te Urewera Board has outlined the conditions under which Te Urewera's walking tracks, huts, hunting, fishing and boat ramps are open in Alert Level 2, in order to keep local communities safe and ensure COVID-19 does not enter vulnerable communities following a succesful lockdown.
- Read the Te Urewera Board statement here.
- For anyone visiting Te Urewera, please fill in the Te Urewera Trip Report
- Continue with good hygiene practices
- Apply for appropriate permits including hunting and pig dog permits
- If flying into Te Urewera, you must only use Te Urewera approved heli-operators
- Huts are no longer limited to 10 people per day
- Keep up to date with the latest in Te Urewera on the Alerts and Important Information page
- Learn more about the Te Urewera COVID-19 safety measures, and what that means for you below:
at home in the valleys
The health and safety of our iwi is important to us. At Alert Level 2, we each had an individual responsibility to continue to protect our communities and eliminate Covid-19. Tūhoe Te Uru Taumatua tari is open, however, visitors can expect to see appropriate public health measures in place. If you have a general inquiry, please contact us via phone 07 312 9659
- The Taneatua, Waimana and Kawerau Medical Centres are open but have returned to phone consults with strict health measures in place
- A Tūhoe Medical team of Councillors and GP are available on 0508 4 AROHA
- Tribals have been busy working on their particular whārua needs and staying connected with TUT. A Covid-19 leadership group has been working to identify:The needs of our vulnerable; Keeping connected with our Tribal needs; Keeping the mahi going; Looking after staff
Follow your iwi platforms for regular updates on key information:
- Ngai Tūhoe Facebook
- Te Urewera Facebook
- korero@ngaituhoe.iwi.nz
Stay informed by reading only reliable sources, such as:
the government taskforce
The New Zealand Government Taskforce is taking measures to ensure the disease is contained and community transmission is not happening.
If you are in a job loss situation as a result of Covid-19, please visit here to find new work or re-train for another role. This online hub is a dedicated place to connect job seekers and employers during this extremely challenging time.
Health Impacts
Call Healthline for health or self-isolation advice.
If you are having trouble getting through, you can register for self-isolation online with Healthline. Currently, there is no specific treatment for Covid-19, but medical care can treat most of the symptoms.
The symptoms of Covid-19 are:
- a cough
- a high temperature (at least 38°C)
- shortness of breath
Please encourage your at-risk whānau, especially your pākeke, to get their free influenza and flu vaccinations at their local GP. Whānau being prioritised by health clinics are:
- Pakeke over 60 years
- People with respiratory conditions
- Frontline workers
- Pregnant woman
If you feel you are not coping, it is important to talk with a health professional. For support with grief, anxiety, distress or mental wellbeing, you can call or text 1737 – free, any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – to talk with a trained counsellor.
The Mental Health Foundation are actively updating their Facebook, Instagram and Twitter with supportive information and helpful resources.
The Getting Through Together campaign is now live at with a hub of helpful tips and advice available.
Resources specifically for tamariki are also available at Sparklers at Home.
Three new apps have also been created for those tech savy whānau:
- The Mentemia app
- Melon, a health journal app
- Staying on Track, an e-therapy programme
Community Safety
To report anything to your local Police, please use the below guide:
- Call triple one (111) when you need an emergency response from Police, Fire or Ambulance
- Use Ten Five (105) to report things that don’t need urgent Police assistance
- Call Star Triple Five (*555) to report road incidents which are urgent but not life-threatening
New Zealand Outdoor Activities
All outdoor activities in New Zealand are now permitted.
All Department of Conservation visitor centres, huts and campsites are open with contact tracing provision provided.
Fish and Game New Zealand kicked off the Game BIrd season on Saturday 23 May.
Game Animal Council have encouraged hunters to keep a track of where you have been, where and who you have been hunting with, to assist with rapid contact tracing if that is required. The Te Urewera Trip Report is being used for contact tracing and can be found here.