COVID-19 Update Friday 20 August 2021

COVID-19 Alert Level update – Alert Level 4 extended, stay home

Tēnā koutou,

As per the Government’s announcement this afternoon, all of New Zealand will remain at Alert Level 4 until at least 11.59pm on Tuesday 24 August. The Alert Levels will be reviewed by the Government on Monday, and further updates with respect to our kaimahi and tauira will be provided then.

As advised by the Government, we all need to stay home, until further notice, so we can stamp out COVID-19 in the community. If you have been to any of the locations of interest on the specific dates and times outlined here, self-isolate immediately and call Healthline on 0800 358 5453. Please check the list of locations of interest regularly. If you are displaying any COVID-19 symptoms, get tested.

If you have been at a location of interest:

• As more and more locations of interest are identified, it is likely some kaimahi and tauira will have been at one or more locations of interest.
• If this applies to you, and you have been on campus or at one of our delivery sites, since being at a location of interest, we ask that (as well as altering Healthline and following the guidance required) you alert your manager/kaiako.
• We will then keep kaimahi and tauira updated.
• You do not need to get tested if you have not been at a location of interest.

For Awanuiārangi, Alert Level 4 means:

• All our campuses remain closed until further notice.
• Kaimahi and tauira need to work and study from home.
• Programmes are shifting to online delivery, where possible. If this is not possible, classes are being postponed to a later date.
• Kaiako are to contact their tauira as soon as possible to confirm delivery arrangements for their individual programmes, as required. If programmes need to be postponed for any reason, kaiako are also expected to keep tauira informed.
• Noho and Marae-based programmes are being held online until further notice. Timetabling for these are to be communicated to tauira by kaiako and/or marae coordinators as needed.
• Kaimahi and tauira are not permitted on campus.

Please continue to follow the health and safety protocols. Wear a mask and keep 2 metres distance from others when leaving your home. You legally must wear a face covering if you are on public transport and at departure points, for example train stations and bus stops; on flights; in taxi or ride-share vehicles — drivers and passengers; when visiting healthcare facilities; and inside any Alert Level 4 businesses and services that are still open and involve customer contact, including supermarkets, pharmacies and petrol stations.

A reminder that in the event all or part of New Zealand moves to Alert Level 3, all our campuses remain closed, and tauira or kaimahi are not permitted on campus. Our approach at each Alert Level is outlined here.

It’s critical we follow the rules so that we can keep each other, our whānau, and our communities safe. We know this is a difficult time, and many of you may be feeling anxious. Check out the wellbeing resources on our COVID-19 resource page on our website and seek support if you need it. Some useful links are included below my email signature.

Continue to check your emails. All official Awanuiārangi COVID-19 communications will be distributed from our Chief Executive’s office. You can also follow the Awanuiārangi website and Facebook page. Email us at ssc@wananga.ac.nz for any other pātai you may have. 

We thank you for your continued support during these challenging times.

Professor Wiremu Doherty

Chief Executive Officer

USEFUL LINKS:

• Information about our health and safety protocols, links to mental health and wellbeing resources, and our approach for the various Alert Levels can be found here.
• A reminder for tauira, that applications for the 2021 COVID-19 Hardship Fund for Learners (HAFL) are open. Find out more here.
• We are following the guiding principles at Alert Level 4 for tertiary organisations. You can read more about this in the latest Tertiary Education Bulletin here.
• Follow the latest official Government updates about the evolving COVID-19 situation on the ‘Unite against COVID-19’ website, here.
• Definitions of casual contacts, casual plus contacts, close contacts and close plus contacts are explained here, as well as the actions which need to be taken.
• New Zealand Alert Level protocols for the prescribed Alert Level can be found here.