COVID-19 Update Wednesday 18 August 2021

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

New Zealand moved to Alert Level 4 from 11.59pm, Tuesday 17 August. Auckland and Coromandel are at Alert Level 4 for at least seven days. The rest of New Zealand is at Alert Level 4 for at least three days. The Alert Levels will be reviewed by the Government as needed.  Further updates with respect to our kaimahi and tauira will be provided as required. 

As advised by the Government, everyone needs to now 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 outlined here, self-isolate immediately and call Healthline on 0800 358 5453. If you are displaying any COVID-19 symptoms, get tested.

For Awanuiārangi, this means:

• All our campuses are now closed until further notice (for at least seven days in Tāmaki, and at least three days in Whakatāne and Whangārei).
• 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, including safe hygiene and physical distancing, as prescribed by the Alert Level. Please wear masks if you are out in public for allowed activities (e.g., physical exercise in your neighbourhood, supermarket and pharmacy visits, and when seeking necessary medical care). No public gatherings are permitted.

Follow the latest official Government updates about the evolving COVID-19 situation on the ‘Unite against COVID-19’ website, here. Other important links are below:

• 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.

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. Check in with your Manager or Kaiako if you have any pātai.

A reminder also for tauira, that applications for the 2021 COVID-19 Hardship Fund for Learners (HAFL) are now open. Find out more here.

We are following the guiding principles at Alert Level 4 for tertiary organisations. You can read more about this here. It is critical that we follow the guidelines to the letter.

Continue to check your emails and follow the Awanuiārangi website and Facebook page for all our updates. Email us at ssc@wananga.ac.nz (tauira) and COVID-19@wananga.ac.nz (kaimahi) for any other pātai you may have.   

This latest development has shown that this pandemic is nowhere near over, and we must continue to remain vigilant to keep each other, our whānau, and our communities safe. We thank you for your support as we continue to navigate our way through this pandemic.