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Auckland Zoo's three-month-old zebra foal, who was born with mobility issues in his front and hind l…
Who the heck is setting off fireworks tonight.
For crying out loud STOP IT!!!!
This week sees us all getting used to living at Alert Level 4. For this to work, we must all stick to the plan.
Stay home. It WILL save lives.
Let’s all remember why we are taking such extreme measures.
Staying home won’t always be easy. But the evidence tells us this is the best way to… View moreThis week sees us all getting used to living at Alert Level 4. For this to work, we must all stick to the plan.
Stay home. It WILL save lives.
Let’s all remember why we are taking such extreme measures.
Staying home won’t always be easy. But the evidence tells us this is the best way to save the lives of other New Zealanders.
Finding our routines
It will take some time to build up new daily routines. That’s to be expected. We all need to be gentle with ourselves, and accept that things could be difficult for a while as we learn to adjust.
Looking after ourselves and others
Don’t forget to take time to look after yourself, and also to check-in on others. Asking someone how they are feeling is a good way to connect and show that you care.
We all need to stick to the plan
For this to work, and the effort we are all making to be worth it, we all need to stick to the plan, all the time. No exceptions.
Don’t move around
The virus is spread by us. So we all need to avoid moving around as much as possible. If you do go out for exercise or to get essential supplies, stay local. This is incredibly important. Don’t move between different areas.
Thank you for doing your bit
A massive thank you to everyone for working so hard to slow the spread of COVID-19. Together, we can and will save lives.
GOT QUESTIONS?
If you need help knowing what to do, visit covid19.govt.nz.
The staff at Textile Cleaning Services would like to thank you, our valued customers, for your support and hope you all keep safe over the next month.
We will be temporarily closing over this lock-down period, however you can still contact us through our website or by email to make a booking … View moreThe staff at Textile Cleaning Services would like to thank you, our valued customers, for your support and hope you all keep safe over the next month.
We will be temporarily closing over this lock-down period, however you can still contact us through our website or by email to make a booking and we will service your requirements as soon as we re-open.
Thank you.
Small businesses need our support more than ever right now. While it's uncertain times for all, we are still proud to be celebrating our 11 regional Local Business Heroes for their commitment to their communities.
They now need your help! We are now looking for the New Zealand … View moreSmall businesses need our support more than ever right now. While it's uncertain times for all, we are still proud to be celebrating our 11 regional Local Business Heroes for their commitment to their communities.
They now need your help! We are now looking for the New Zealand Prospa Local Business Hero - our overall winner, as voted by Neighbourly members around the country!
This lucky business will walk away with $10,000 worth of prizes!
Please take a couple of minutes to read the nominations below - then vote for the business you'd like to see named 2020 Prospa Local Business Hero.
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NORTHLAND: Lew Ringrose - Ringrose Stockfoods
“A very humble man who has been sponsoring any and every cause that has been requested for well over 40 years. He sponsors so many causes in and outside of the neighborhood, goes out of his way to get the meal to the hungry animals, works through the night to fill orders, even on public holidays he steps in and runs the factory single handed to allow his staff time off. He is well past retirement but dedicated to keeping hungry animals supplied with food. No order is too big or too small for his fantastic team.”
AUCKLAND: Jay & Kusum - Orakei Superette
“Part of our lives for so many years. They offer a great business, post centre, the BEST fresh flowers and fruit & veg. I have NEVER known them to take a holiday. Kind and genuinely caring people who add so much to our community. You could not find a better Local Business Hero!”
WAIKATO: Te Aroha Vet Clinic
Te Aroha Veterinary Clinic provide a fantastic service from a team that are dedicated to I was devastated losing Blue (horse) I bred her 14 yrs ago and loved her dearly and now I had her orphan foal to care for. Without her dedication staying for hours trying to save Blue I honestly don't know how I would have coped. They are a true asset to our community they go above and beyond the call of duty helping to care for our all animals providing around the clock care and service.”
BAY OF PLENTY: Tony & Julie - Pyes Pa SuperValue
“The owners, Tony & Julie, are great at communicating and continually ask their customers if they stock the products they want, and if they don’t, they then get it in. They have a very friendly manner and their Managers and Staff are all attentive. Thanks to Tony & Julie for choosing Pyes Pa, you have fitted in well.”
HAWKE’S BAY - GISBORNE: Kaye & Alan - Cornucopia Organics
“The staff are friendly and helpful.Also the owners will order in whatever is required,if it is not currently on their shelves.”
TARANAKI: Down to Earth
“As well as a range of healthy tasty foodstuffs and quality herbal supplements, they also provide a range of products to help with sustainable living. They have recently introduced a "bring-you-own-container" refill facility for dishwasher, shampoo and other cleaners. However the best thing about this store is the excellent service. I'm always greeted with a smile and friendly word, offers of help, etc. It is always a pleasure to shop here.”
MANAWATU-WANGANUI: Margaret and Vijay - Maxwells Line Four Square
“Margaret and Veejay go out of their way to make sure customers get the freshest fruit and veggies in town and if they don't have what you want will ring around to source it for you. Despite being robbed and stabbed in daylight, they were open for business as usual the next day. They are held in high esteem locally.”
WELLINGTON: Quoc Tran - Tutere Street Four Square
“This man got out of Viet Nam by himself when he was13, sailed on a boat and spent time in camps before coming to NZ. He could not speak english. He purchased a local dairy and over the years has totally transformed and enlarged it providing employment to a number of locals. He is the ultimate friendly shopkeeper.”
NELSON - MARLBOROUGH: Cath - Blenheim Life Pharmacy
“They deliver my prescriptions to me as I’m often unable to get them. They always make sure nothing I'm prescribed interacts with anything and they always explain how to take my meds thoroughly to me, which is important as I've had a brain stem stroke and somedays my brain is scrambled. Cath is wonderful at dropping them off for me. They do a really important and medically serious job with kindness"
CANTERBURY - WEST: Mark & Des - The Vege Shop.
“The Vege Shop on Stourbridge is just the best little local biz in town. Mark and his wife Des always have a smile and time for a yarn. We feel so fortunate to have them just around the corner. They are awesome!”
OTAGO - SOUTHLAND: John Swindlehurst - A&J Services
“John is fantastic!!! He does everything from carpet repairs to chimney sweeping and pest control. I have him listed in my phone as John Everything! He has a brilliant attitude and has even come on public holidays at short notice.”
Hi Neighbours, Auckland Council will close most of its community facilities for 14 days to prevent any spread of Coronavirus. How will that affect you, and what could alternatives be? Read the story below:
Police have today launched a new online form which the public can use to report COVID-19 Alert Level 4 restriction breaches. The online form can be found at www.105.police.govt.nz.... It can be used to report isolation breaches or cases of businesses continuing to operate when they are not part of … View morePolice have today launched a new online form which the public can use to report COVID-19 Alert Level 4 restriction breaches. The online form can be found at www.105.police.govt.nz.... It can be used to report isolation breaches or cases of businesses continuing to operate when they are not part of the essential workforce. Police Commissioner Mike Bush urged people to use the online form instead of calling Police.
“We know that people want to do the right thing if they see people flouting the restrictions, but we want to ease the load on the non-emergency phone number. “Police will take the information reported online and make contact to remind those breaching the restrictions of their responsibilities. “We are continuing to take the approach of educating and informing people of their responsibilities in the first instance, but we will not hesitate to take enforcement action if people continue to ignore the restrictions.” “Police do not want to have to arrest anyone or visit people because they doing are the wrong thing. “Please stay at home, follow the guidelines on www.covid19.govt.nz... and don’t give people a reason to report your behaviour to Police.”
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***avoid contact with people who aren't in your self-isolation 'bubble' (people who are sharing the home with you), meaning no visitors
***maintain a two-metre distance between yourself and others when outside the home
***avoid sharing crockery, cutlery, towels, pillows or beds … View more***avoid contact with people who aren't in your self-isolation 'bubble' (people who are sharing the home with you), meaning no visitors
***maintain a two-metre distance between yourself and others when outside the home
***avoid sharing crockery, cutlery, towels, pillows or beds with others in the home
***maintain regular cleaning and sanitising of surfaces and household items
***wash your hands frequently
***practice good coughing and sneezing etiquette
***avoid communal/shared areas in the home as much as possible and clean them well after each use
***only leave the house for essential reasons, including to buy supplies from essential businesses or to take exercise within your community. ***Follow social distancing guidelines and avoid contact with others
***stay home if you are feeling unwell and avoid contact with others in the home
***if you are ill or have compromised immunity, friends, family members or delivery services can drop groceries and supplies at your door.
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on Sunday 2 of my kids were at the park with 2 friends, they found a used mask on the ground , Monday when at the supermarket with one of my boys we found used gloves discarded in one of the trolleys, Tuesday while out doing my run saw used gloves on ground near back fence of high school. can … View moreon Sunday 2 of my kids were at the park with 2 friends, they found a used mask on the ground , Monday when at the supermarket with one of my boys we found used gloves discarded in one of the trolleys, Tuesday while out doing my run saw used gloves on ground near back fence of high school. can those using these pleas bin after use thank you
was out yesterday(Friday)while I was in supermarket my son saw many masks n gloves dumped along the main road, between the supermarket and the skate park near the foot path drains, only sign of police was their cars driving around. pleas can those using these items dispose of them in bins thank you
Yesterday, the brunch rush slowed to a dribble. Beach Babylon is normally packed to the rafters, but now, barely a bruncher in sight. It's still taking precautions. Beach Babylon owner Maura Rigby says the establishment is taking the illness seriously and has spaced out its tables. Last night … View moreYesterday, the brunch rush slowed to a dribble. Beach Babylon is normally packed to the rafters, but now, barely a bruncher in sight. It's still taking precautions. Beach Babylon owner Maura Rigby says the establishment is taking the illness seriously and has spaced out its tables. Last night it was a different story in Auckland. Social distancing was out the window as punters gathered in the city's bars for Friday night beers. But the Government says stop. "If you cannot go out and maintain two metres from others, then don't," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says. Unlike the United Kingdom, our Government won't require close-downs, instead, it's released guidelines for hospitality providers.
To help with contact tracing, bars, restaurants, and cafes are being told to collect the full name, address, email address and phone number of every single customer as well as noting down the date and time they visited. Panhead Wellington has already started. Its owner Matt McLaughlin has a nightclub and he's already doing it there too. "I had my security staff standing there with a form. People are just going to have fill them out. It means there is a bit of a queue at the door, but we gotta do what we gotta do," he says. They'll also be required to do headcounts ensuring there are no more than 100 people on-premise - including staff, move tables a metre apart, and move any pokies machines a metre apart too. "We are in the fight for our lives, we know that. Any restriction is going to make things even more difficult to operate, but we are a socially responsible industry, and we know its the right thing to do," said McLaughlin. While they are labelled guidelines, these are effectively hard and fast rules. The Minister of Health Dr David Clark told he has the power under the Health Act to shut down any establishment if they are risking public safety - and if he hears of anyone flouting the rules, he's not afraid to do so.
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Remember: This will all be over one day! Stay home, wash your hands, don’t touch your face, and practice social distancing as much as possible.
good.net.nz...
In the winter of 1914, Ella Cooke was looking forward to a grand adventure. The Auckland-born nurse and her twin sister Lily had just departed New Zealand in a boat bound for Vancouver, New York and finally England. She was looking forward to seeing the sights, and eventually a working holiday in … View moreIn the winter of 1914, Ella Cooke was looking forward to a grand adventure. The Auckland-born nurse and her twin sister Lily had just departed New Zealand in a boat bound for Vancouver, New York and finally England. She was looking forward to seeing the sights, and eventually a working holiday in London, or maybe Paris.
The outbreak of war in July 1914 dashed all her plans. Rather than return home, Ella joined the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve. The work was extremely difficult, and Ella described it in her letters as 'frightfully hard'.
The story of Ella Cooke, captured below in our Online Cenotaph, is one of ceaseless dedication to nursing the ill and ailing back to health. Her work is reflected in the remarkable efforts of New Zealand's doctors, nurses and healthcare staff, who are taking every measure to ensure the ongoing safety of New Zealanders. A huge thank you to these essential workers for the incredible job they do.
www.aucklandmuseum.com...
On March 25, 2020, the New Zealand government announced that temporary visas would be automatically extended to late September. This comes into effect from Thursday, April 2, 2020. Travellers with a temporary work, student, visitor, interim and limited, visa expiring before April 1, 2020, who are … View moreOn March 25, 2020, the New Zealand government announced that temporary visas would be automatically extended to late September. This comes into effect from Thursday, April 2, 2020. Travellers with a temporary work, student, visitor, interim and limited, visa expiring before April 1, 2020, who are unable to leave New Zealand must apply online for a new visa. More information and the latest updates are on the official Covid-19 NZ website.
Large number without status
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More than one-in-16 people in New Zealand today – or more than 300,000 in total – is a migrant without residence status, living here on a temporary work, student or family visa. Many of those migrants fill key roles that will help us through this COVID-19 pandemic. Care workers, nurses, doctors, truck drivers, farm workers and fruit pickers are just a few examples. It is a similar story in many other countries. There are more than 2 million people on temporary visas in Australia – including 600,000 New Zealanders. For New Zealand to have its best shot at containing community spread of coronavirus, and to strengthen its case to Australia and other governments to look after New Zealanders abroad, we need to act now to look after all people in New Zealand. That means guaranteeing temporary visa holders access to health and social services for the duration of this COVID-19 crisis. It is not only the right thing to do but also the best thing that we can do for our nation’s health. It also strengthens our government’s ability to demand better care for the approximately 1 million New Zealanders living, studying or working overseas. Closing borders minimises the risk of transmission and protects national populations, as Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters made clear in his call for travelling New Zealand citizens and residents to return home.
Border closure effect
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But it is also true that border closures now in force across our region and around the world have left millions of migrants working or studying abroad stranded away from home, with unequal or uncertain access to health care and other critical services. These border restrictions will halt migration flows in unprecedented ways. Globally, between 2010 and 2019 an additional 51 million people became international migrants. To respond effectively to COVID-19, governments worldwide need to seriously consider the migrants in their midst. New Zealand is no exception. According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, 303,453 people were living in New Zealand on temporary work, student or family visas at the end of February 2020. This represents about 6% of the resident population. Ten years ago, only 155,931 people were on temporary visas.
Limited rights
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Most countries, including New Zealand, either delay and restrict access to citizenship for migrants, or do not offer it at all. This means a large proportion of these people have relatively limited rights. Temporary visa holders in New Zealand have no certainty about their right to remain. Their access to key public services such as health care is often limited.
Lessons from elsewhere
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Border closures present the New Zealand government with several immediate migration-related challenges, including (a) many people on temporary work visas do not have automatic rights to health care, including all workers who receive work visas less than two years in length and their families, as well as all students and working holiday visa holders, and while some may have health insurance, many policies will not cover treatment for COVID-19 (b) during the course of the New Zealand border closure, and those implemented in other countries, the visas of many of these people may expire, creating problematic legal situations (c) some people on temporary visas, especially those who do not have friends and family in New Zealand or have arrived recently, may have little access to information about COVID-19 or understand how New Zealand government agencies work. (d) Some countries are actively responding to the issue of health access.
Providing health services
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In Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Health says all uninsured people will have access to screening and treatment. Singapore has waived fees for testing and hospital bills for all non-citizen residents and long-term visa holders.
In New Zealand, the government is considering being more flexible with work visas on a case-by-case basis. The government has also made it clear employers of migrant workers are entitled to wage subsidies under the economic response package. This is a good sign but it remains unclear how a case-by-case approach can address the size of the temporary migrant population and their very different circumstances.
Migrants in limbo
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In the next six months, the visas of 40,948 migrant workers and 33,441 international students will expire. Visa expiry will leave these migrants in limbo, and that’s without taking into account the impact of COVID-19 on jobs.
For essential skills work visa holders (59,232 people in New Zealand, as of February 2020) and their partners (34,335 people) and children (25,314), the loss of a job for any reason entails the cancellation of a visa if a new position can’t be found. The length of time a person has been in New Zealand or the demand for their skills are not relevant to such decisions. Seasonal work visa holders (8802), mostly from the Pacific, are on seven-month visas with no rights to extend or apply for other visas. Post-study work visa holders (31,437) have more flexibility seeking employment but have often spent significant money on education and living costs over many years. They need a job to be eligible to apply for a residence visa.
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A crisis nurse diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder following the death of an Auckland arti…
This is a crucial time. You might be tempted to leave the house this weekend to enjoy your free time. But it’s incredibly important that you don’t revert back to ‘normal life’.
Remember why we are all taking these extreme measures. Stay home. Save lives. This breaks the chain and stops … View moreThis is a crucial time. You might be tempted to leave the house this weekend to enjoy your free time. But it’s incredibly important that you don’t revert back to ‘normal life’.
Remember why we are all taking these extreme measures. Stay home. Save lives. This breaks the chain and stops the virus spreading.
How to break the chain, and protect us all:
STOP THE MOVEMENT
The virus is spread by us. It can’t move by itself. So we all need to avoid moving around as much as possible, eg:
● don't travel to and from baches or second homes
● avoid driving out of your neighbourhood
● don't travel across the country in campervans
● note that DOC has closed all of its campsites and huts.
KEEP EXERCISE LOCAL
There are very few exceptions to staying home, but exercise is one of them. Going for a walk, run or bike ride is good for your mental health. Just remember to:
● stay close to home. Enjoy your neighbourhood, but go no further
● keep it solitary, or only with those you live with
● keep a 2 metre distance from others.
DO SAFE ACTIVITIES ONLY
● Our emergency services need to be fully available to respond to COVID-19 cases. Any search and rescue operation reduces the ability of first responders to help others.
● Do your bit to help them by only undertaking safe activities, and avoiding going into areas where you could get lost or hurt and require their help. Avoid outdoor activities like swimming, surfing, tramping, or boating, hunting or hiking.
AVOID PUBLIC SPACES
● All bars, restaurants, cafes, gyms, cinemas, pools, museums, libraries and playgrounds are closed.
● Avoid places like beaches where people commonly linger, or are unable to maintain a 2 metre distance.
● Don't touch surfaces others may have touched when outdoors, like park benches or playgrounds.
When you return home carefully wash your hands, and any items you took with you outdoors.
© Neighbourly 2024
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