COVID-19 Update Monday 6 September 2021

COVID-19 Alert Level update – Monday 6 September

Tēnā koutou,

Below is an update following today’s Government announcement.

• Auckland remains at Alert Level 4.
• The rest of New Zealand moves to Alert Level 2 from 11.59pm on Tuesday 7 September.
• These Alert Levels will be reviewed by Government on Monday 13 September and further updates provided.
• Until 11.59pm on Tuesday 7 September, the rest of New Zealand is still at Alert Level 3.

What this means for Awanuiārangi:

Tāmaki Campus

• Our Tāmaki campus remains at Alert Level 4 until further notice, kaimahi and tauira are not allowed on campus, and classes are being delivered online. Follow the rules shared in previous updates and on our website.

Whakatāne and Whangārei campuses

• Given we are dealing with a more contagions variant of COVID-19, the Government has adapted the rules at Alert Level 2. As well as following safe hygiene, this means face coverings are now mandatory inside most public venues; scanning is mandatory; there are limits of 50 people in indoor gatherings and up to 100 people in outdoor gatherings; and physical distancing of two metres.
• We are awaiting guidance from the TEC on how some of these rules apply to tertiary institutions at Alert Level 2.
• In the interim, our Whakatāne and Whangārei Campuses remain closed, no-one is allowed on site, and programme delivery continues online until Monday 13 September.
• We will send further communications to kaimahi and tauira on Thursday 7 September outlining our plans for Alert Level 2.

Awanuiārangi COVID-19 protocols:

• We are updating our Awanuiārangi COVID-19 protocols to reflect the new requirements at the various Alert Levels once we have further clarity from the TEC on these, and these will be sent to tauira and kaimahi this week. All tauira and kaimahi need to be familiar with these protocols.

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

That the rest of New Zealand can move down an Alert Level is good news, and we hope our Auckland whānau can join us soon. However, regardless of the shift in Alert Levels, we are not out of the woods. We need to remain vigilant and follow the protocols prescribed by the Alert Level. Whānau, please continue to stay safe, and look after each other.

Professor Wiremu Doherty

Chief Executive Officer

LOCATIONS OF INTEREST AND PROTOCOLS:

• 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.
• You do not need to get tested if you have not been at a location of interest.
• If 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 as needed.

USEFUL LINKS:

• TWWOA resources:
• 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.
• EAP – The Employment Assistance Programme (EAP) can be extended to tauira during this lockdown period (it is already available to kaimahi). If you know of any kaimahi or tauira who would appreciate this support service, direct them to the following contact details: 0800 EAP NOW (0800 327 669) / eapservices.co.nz.
• Alert Levels - Information about our health and safety protocols, and our approach for the various Alert Levels can be found here.

Financial support – Funding from the 2021 COVID-19 Hardship Fund for Learners (HAFL) has been exhausted. Below are other useful links we encourage you to check out if you need financial support:

https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/covid-19/index.html

https://covid19.govt.nz/business-and-money/financial-support/financial-support/

https://www.studylink.govt.nz/

https://www.wananga.ac.nz/enrolment/paying-for-study/budgeting-advice/

• Vaccinations: You can go online to the national booking system BookMyVaccine.nz, or phone the COVID Vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26 to reserve your spot. Everyone over the age of 12 is eligible to book. Detailed advice on COVID-19 vaccination is available from the Ministry of Health, which can be accessed here.
• TEC pānui: We are following the guiding principles at Alert Level 4 for tertiary organisations, where this is relevant to Awanuiā You can read more about this in the latest Tertiary Education Bulletins here.
• Government updates: 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.
• NZ protocols: New Zealand Alert Level protocols for the prescribed Alert Level can be found here.