There are 80 community cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand today – 77 in Auckland, two in Waikato and one in Northland.
There were also five cases reported in managed isolation.
There was no media conference today. In a statement, the Health Ministry said 46 of today’s cases are unlinked. There are now 287 unlinked cases from the past 14 days.
There are 50 people in hospital, including four people in intensive care. The Ministry said the average age of those in hospital is 44.
The two new cases in Waikato – one in Te Awamutu and one in Hamilton – remain unlinked, along with five other cases in the region.
The Ministry said the Waikato DHB was continuing to carry out testing throughout the region, to help determine any undetected community spread of Covid-19.
“We are urging anyone in Waikato – in particular, people in Te Awamutu – to get tested if they have any symptoms that could be Covid-19.”
One of yesterday’s cases was in Blenheim. The person tested positive after arriving on a flight from Rotorua via Wellington. This is the first community case of Covid-19 in the South Island since the current outbreak began.
The Ministry said today that the Covid-19 positive case in Blenheim is unvaccinated, but that two household contacts have returned negative results.
The Ministry is still asking residents in Marlborough, Nelson and Tasman with symptoms – no matter how mild – to get tested, even if they are vaccinated.
There have now been 2572 cases in the current outbreak, and 5278 since the pandemic began.
There were 42,482 vaccinations given yesterday – 11,777 first doses and 30,705 second doses.
“It remains our number one protection against Covid-19,” said the Ministry. “The Pfizer vaccine is safe, will help stop you getting seriously ill, and could save your life.”
The next media conference will be held on Tuesday.
A broad outline of the new system for managing Covid-19 restrictions has been delivered, but critics say it’s confusing; there’s 129 new cases; some hospitals are still rushing to prepare for the virus, and a third dose of vaccine is now available.
It will come into play once all 20 DHBs across the country have vaccinated 90 percent of their eligible population.
Those with a vaccination certificate will be entitled to more freedoms, and businesses with vaccination certificates be able to operate at all levels under the new guidelines.
However localised lockdowns could still be used if cases grow in any areas.
The new system was criticised for being confusing and slow, by the National and Act parties, while the Greens and Māori parties said more protections were needed for vulnerable people.
Under red, the strictest scenario, regional boundaries apply. Businesses, schools and public facilities can open following capacity and distancing rules, but working from home is encouraged. Contact tracing must continue, and people must wear masks in public places.
Whereas in the green setting businesses, schools and public facilities can open with no extra measures for those with vaccination certificates. Masks will be required on flights and encouraged indoors, and contact tracing will still be required.
Today’s cases numbers: 129 new cases, plus two Northland cases
Another 129 people tested positive for Covid-19, the Ministry of Health reported – the second triple-digit day (102 cases were reported yesterday). Nine of the new cases were tested in Waikato, the rest were all in Auckland.
Two new cases were later discovered in Northland, after the official count for the day was delivered (they will be among tomorrow’s figures).
The pair are contacts of a diagnosed Auckland case, and authorities said they weren’t linked to earlier Covid-19 positive travellers who visited Northland.
The two newly diagnosed people had been allowed to travel to Kaikohe from Auckland under alert level 4 rules, and are now isolating there.
The Parua Bay Tavern, near Whangārei, has closed because of a connection to the cases.
There were no more signs of Covid-19 in Hawke’s Bay wastewater or from testing after news yesterday that a person had travelled to Hawke’s Bay while infectious with the virus, but more testing will be done next week.
The Ministry also restated its call to anyone from the Auckland suburb of Redvale to get tested if they have symptoms of Covid-19, a cold or flu, following a large party held there in the weekend – as well as residents of New Lynn, North Shore, Rosedale and Bayswater.
Net widened for financial help, and more help for businesses
Those working 40 hours a week on the minimum wage will be able to get grants to pay for food and other bills.
The government also announced a boost to the Covid-19 Resurgence Support Payment, to help businesses hit by lockdowns.
From 12 November, the available payment will double to $3000 per eligible business and $800 dollars per full time employee, with a maximum of 50 employees, each fortnight until the country shifts to the traffic light system.
However there were mixed reactions in the business community, with the extra payment welcome, but frustrations over the unknown length of time before the traffic system would come into play.
Two people are isolating at a Kaikohe property in Northland after testing positive for Covid-19. Photo: RNZ/ Sam Olley
Hospitals still scrambling to prepare for Covid-19
RNZ revealed that none of Auckland’s hospital emergency departments have finished their Covid-19 preparations, more than nine weeks into the outbreak and with patient numbers set to surge.
Building work is continuing at hospitals to create more negative pressure rooms – the gold standard for safely isolating Covid-19 patients, but that some would not be finished until the end of the year.
The Ministry of Health said this group of people may not be able to form a strong immune response against the virus with the standard two primary doses. But after reviewing research, their advisors believed a third dose could help provide better protection for some.
This third dose is different to booster vaccination doses against Covid-19, which are not yet available in New Zealand.
The Ministry said its technical advisory group would made a recommendation on booster vaccinations in “coming months”, and an assessment was being carried out by Medsafe. The final decision would rest with Cabinet.
Doctors can now prescribe a third vaccination dose against Covid-19 to some immunocompromised New Zealanders.
Ministry of Health Covid-19 vaccination programme director Jo Gibbs said the third dose is for severely immunocompromised people who fit a “complex” set of criteria, and have a prescription for it from their GP or specialist. They must be 12 years old or older.
A third dose is different to getting a booster vaccination dose against Covid-19, which is not yet available in New Zealand.
It was recommended by the Ministry’s Covid-19 Technical Advisory Group, after “carefully reviewed a number of studies,” Gibbs said.
“Individuals who are severely immunocompromised are at a higher risk of severe outcomes from Covid-19, and might not produce a sufficiently strong immune response after two doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine.
“A third primary dose may be beneficial, and can be administered at least eight weeks after the second dose.”
Gibbs said the people in this group of the population are particularly vulnerable to the Covid-19 virus, and it was important all of their close contacts and household contacts get their own two doses of the vaccine, to act as ‘indirect protection’.
The Ministry expects a recommendation to be made on booster vaccinations “in the coming months” by the Covid-19 Technical Advisory Group.
It said Medsafe must also complete an assessment, and the agency was currently awaiting more data from Pfizer.
After those reviews are completed Cabinet will make the final decision on if booster vaccinations would be made available.
More details about who can access the third Covid-19 dose, and how, is available here.
Cardinal Soane Patita Mafi has a message for the politicians who will soon gather at the COP 26 conference, regarded by many as the last chance to avoid the worst that climate change has to offer.
The Tongan-based prelate’s message is simple: Listen.
“We want those big nations to really see and to really hear,” he said in an interview with the British Catholic magazine, The Tablet.
“Not to pretend. Not to turn away. We want them not to be deafened to the cry of reality by other agendas. Can they turn an ear of love, not of political expediency? Are they prepared to hear the voice of the voiceless?”
For the senior Catholic church leader in the Pacific, it is important that peoples of the Pacific are not overlooked in Glasgow. The islands are among the most vulnerable in the world and Cardinal Mafi has emerged as one of their most eloquent advocates
Mafi told The Tablet that when young Tongans question their role in the church and ask “Who are we?” their question is bound up with questions about the fragility of the environment.
Cardinal Mafi was consecrated just three months before the publication of Pope Francis’ widely influential encyclical, Laudato Si, which calls for a widespread rebirth of spirituality and social and environmental awareness to combat climate change and redress the horrendous imbalance of power and wealth in society.
The Cardinal is a member of the executive of Caritas Internationalis and, since March 2021, the president of Caritas Oceania, which has seven member organisations: Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Zealand and Australia. Across the Pacific he sees climate change-induced problems in many Island states, including deforestation in Solomon Islands, people in Kiribati losing their homes, villages in Fiji forced to relocate owing to rising sea waters, vanishing foreshores and erosion.
He is worried about effects of climate change, which have brought severe cyclones more often. His own house floods on a regular basis. However, he believes it is important that the huge challenges facing the Pacific do not reduce people to fear and passivity.
He told The Tablet that he visited people after storms and was always lifted by their resolve to help each other.
“They are always smiling. But when you visit them privately in their homes, they will share their real emotions. There is a lot of pain and many tears,” he said.
He fears that the loss of a traditional communal lifestyle would deprive people of the one resource they had to cope and prosper. “This is worth more than so-called economic development and foreign-owned infrastructure.”
This is an abridged and edited version of an article by Michael Girr, which appeared in The Tablet on October 21, 2021.
The government has announced details of its Covid-19 Protection Framework, involving the roll-out of a ‘traffic-light’ system once all DHBs hit 90 percent full vaccination rates.
Watch the announcement here:
A vaccine certificate will be central to the new framework.
The system will involve three settings – green, orange and red.
“If you want to be guaranteed that no matter the setting that we are in, that you can go to bars, restaurants and close-proximity businesses like a hairdresser, then you will need to be vaccinated,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told media this morning.
She was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins and Associate Health Minister Peeni Henare as the government also announced enhanced financial support for businesses and those families struggling under restrictions, and a new $120 million fund to boost Māori vaccination rates and protection of communities.
Ardern said the vaccination certificates would allow businesses to be able to open and operate at any level.
If cases start to climb in areas with lower vaccination rates in lower-income communities, much more highly targeted and localised lockdowns can be used if needed, she said.
Photo: RNZ / Vinay Ranchhod
The red setting will allow hospitality to open with vaccine certificates, but gathering limits and physical distancing, masks and other public health measures will be used.
“This will still feel like a huge amount of freedom relative to what Auckland has now,” Ardern said.
Auckland will move into red as soon as the Auckland DHBs hit the 90 percent vaccination target, rather than wait for the rest of the country. At current rates, Auckland would absolutely move before Christmas, she added when questioned by media.
“This is within Auckland’s grasp and we will be throwing every resource we can to support them,” she said.
Photo: RNZ / Vinay Ranchhod
The rest of the country will move all at the same time to “orange” when all DHBs around the country reach the 90 percent target.
At orange, gathering limits can lift. Places that choose not to use vaccination certificates will either be closed or have public health measures in place.
Green is when there are some Covid-19 cases in the community but at low levels. Fully vaccinated people can enjoy all events and hospitality and gatherings by showing a vaccine certificate.
Premises choosing not to use certificates will face restrictions similar to the current alert level framework.
Photo: RNZ
Ardern said the reason for changing from the current alert level system was because the country needed a system that made use of the new tool of vaccines and vaccine certificates.
“On 29 November, Cabinet will review the progress that Auckland has made and the rest of the country to see if anything needs to change. We are open to moving the South Island before the rest of the country if all DHBs in the south hit their targets before others,” she said.
Ardern emphasised Covid-19 cases in the community would rise.
“But because we won’t take this step until we are at 90 percent vaccination, we will also have higher levels of protection that limit Covid’s impact,” she added.
If any member of the public was not vaccinated, there would be things they will miss out on and people who wanted to get out and enjoy summer should do so, the PM warned.
Detail would be progressively added to the system as time goes on. The country will move all at the same time to “orange” when all DHBs around the country reach the 90 percent target.
Ardern said the focus on elimination had kept New Zealand free from Covid-19 for much of the past 18 months when the population was vulnerable.
“We can rightfully be proud of what our world-leading response has achieved, but two things have changed since then,” she said.
“The first is that Delta has made it very hard to maintain our elimination strategy … but as our long-standing strategy was challenged we also had a new tool.
“That tool is the vaccine. The vaccine we are using in New Zealand is safe and effective … it also helps protect everyone. The more people who are vaccinated, the harder it is for Covid to spread through communities quickly.
“Protection means that we won’t just treat Covid like a seasonal illness, we will protect people from it with vaccination, management, and a response that focuses on minimising the health impacts.”
Financial support
An enhanced business support package was also unveiled. It included a significantly boosted Covid-19 Resurgence Support Payment. It will rise from $1500 per eligible business and $400 for each full-time employee (50FTEs maximum), to $3000 per eligible business and $800 per FTE. This will apply from 12 November.
The enhanced support will be paid fortnightly until Auckland has been able to move into the new protection framework.
The wage subsidy will continue to be available on the current criteria while areas of the country are still in alert level 3.
A $60 million fund for business advice and mental health support in Auckland was also announced. Businesses will be able to apply for up to $3000 for advice and planning support, and up to $4000 to implement that advice.
There will also be support for low-income households.
From 1 November income limits for assistance will rise to 40 hours at the minimum wage, or $800 per week and $1600 per week for a couple with or without children.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson told media the approach New Zealand had taken had, along with sustaining one of the lowest mortality rates in the world, also led to strong economic growth, low unemployment and one of the lowest levels of government debt in the world.
But said he was acutely aware of the impact of restrictions on businesses.
Robertson said Cabinet had also made, in principle, decisions on assistance provided under the new traffic-light framework. He will be taking a paper to Cabinet in November proposing a transition grant for Auckland businesses based on a similar criteria to the current Resurgence Support Payment.
Once it is fully operational across New Zealand, the current support schemes will be replaced by something that will better reflect the new framework, he said.
One of the things being considered is how businesses not using vaccine certificates will be treated, particularly in the red level.
Robertson said he thought payment would not be made available to any businesses that should be using a vaccine certificate but choose not to. However, this required more thinking and work on the part of government.
There would also be ongoing support for people who need to isolate and be tested.
“Delta has tested us all, and I know that we have asked a lot of people as we have fought this outbreak … we are almost there and to reiterate the words of the prime minister, please get vaccinated,” he said.
Support for Māori
Associate Health Minister Peeni Henare announced a further $120 million fund would support Māori communities to fast-track vaccination efforts and prepare for the new framework. A total of $60m would be spent on boosting Māori vaccination rates, and $60m would support Māori and iwi-led initiatives to protect communities against the virus.
Henare said the ongoing support was what was required to boost Māori vaccination rates. “While we say 90 percent for Māori and indeed the rest of the population, we will continue to make the vaccine available to continue to lift those numbers,” he said.
There are 129 new cases of Covid-19 in the community today, after hitting triple digits for the first time yesterday.
In a statement, the Health Ministry said 65 of the new cases were still to be linked to earlier cases.
Nine of today’s new cases are in Waikato, with the rest in Auckland. All of the Waikato cases are linked. There have now been 73 cases in the district linked to the current outbreak.
There were also five new cases in managed isolation.
No further locations of interest in Hawkes Bay and no positive detections for Covid-19 in the most recent wastewater testing. Further testing will be conducted next week.
There were no further locations of interest in the area, other than the Kmart Napier that had already been reported.
The Ministry of Health also reiterated its call for people in the Auckland suburb of Redvale to get tested.
It said that the suburb, which was the site of a party during alert level 3, has an ongoing high chance – or “high positivity rate” – of some infection.
“We are asking Redvale residents with symptoms, no matter how mild, to get tested as soon as possible, even if they are vaccinated. We are also encouraging testing in New Lynn and the North Shore suburbs of Rosedale and Bayswater.”
The demolition of the 93-year-old historical treasury in Nuku’alofa has been heavily criticised.
Demolition of old Treasury building in Nuku’alofa. Photo/Owen Pau’u (Facebook)
The demolition appeared to be part of a government new plan designed for the Pangai Si’i land where the old Treasury was situated, before the new Saint George Palace was constructed next to it and was launched in 2017.
The Palace was a four-storey office block, housing the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, and the office of Trade and Foreign Affairs.
The old government treasury was built in 1928 and it originally housed the Customs Department and the General Post Office.
Photos of the demolition have been shared to Facebook this week by Owen Pau’u.
Critics and heritage campaigners shared their reactions under these photos.
“Should have been preserved as a historical building,” a commenter wrote on Facebook.
“Sad indeed,” one wrote.
“No appreciation of history and heritage. Whoever planned this could have preserved this icon and build around it,” another wrote.
“We drove past it early this week and thought it was being refurbished! But sadly not.
“S. A. D Yes to our surprise too early this week here in homeland silence and anger deep down as we noticed drove by this historical building was part of our history…no public consultation!!??? What next…
“Sad!!! $2million to demolish n re build or just demolish. Why not preserve it,” a critic wrote.
In response another wrote: “I am not sure if this cost is true. But how embarrassing to pay someone that much money to demolish this building. I also don’t know how they can justify spending that much money on this demolition”.
COMMENTARY: His Majesty King Tupou VI has called on voters to elect the best MPs to Parliament.
How are they to ensure this happens?
In this critical time before the general election next month, voters should ask whether their leaders have been honest, fair, ethical and kept the promises during the last election. The people need an honest government that distributes development projects fairly and makes sure their benefits last a long time.
Voters should scrutinise the candidates for election closely to make sure they elect the best people to Parliament this coming election, as the king wishes.
Taxpayers and donors’ money
They must also be aware that they pay part of the costs of the government’s projects through their taxes. The rest comes from overseas aid. The controversial road construction programmes that have been carried out have been funded by the people’s tax money and overseas donors. They were not personally paid for by the Prime Minister or the MPs and Cabinet Ministers whose constituencies have been favoured with the work.
Voters should also understand that the weaving houses, toilets, bridges, wharves and upgrades for local airports, including the recently announced multi-million pa’anga upgrade for Vava’u International airport were not paid for out of the Prime Minister’s pocket.
They were paid for by the taxes people paid and overseas grants and aid.
It’s election and campaign times
Voters must understand that any project or significant event or ministerial campaign that is staged by the government from now until the election are government’s duties, not special things that have been funded by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Ministers for the benefit of the voters.
If politicians, especially the government ministers, have visited your houses recently – especially in the outer islands – and met your elders you should ask why they are visiting now when it is close to the election and why they did not come last year or the year before.
Voters should understand that it is the responsibility of the government to build and repair roads, wharves and bridges and meet the people’s urgent needs through local development projects such as constituency and local wardens fundings.
Government must be fair, ethical and honest
Government MPs and Ministers have this power. What voters need are Parliamentarians who can do it more fairly and more honestly than Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa’s government. Having said that, we acknowledge that some people have said they are happy the government has built toilets and weaving houses for them and repaired roads. This is why they will still vote for them despite the many accusations which laid against the government.
However, we would urge these people – and every voter in this election – to subject this government to the closest possible scrutiny. Have they really done such a good job? Have they kept their promises? Have they treated everybody fairly and distributed improvement projects equally?
This government’s failures
This government might fail such close scrutiny. The Prime Minster has been accused of abusing his power and lying to the public. He has been accused of staging a national fasting programme to allow him and his Cabinet Ministers to tour the outer islands at the same time they and their wives were being paid travel allowances from the government’s coffers.
Democrat supporters have long complained about the roading programme, which has been mired in controversy since it was revealed that contracts have gone to friends of the government, including Tu’i’onetoa’s People’s Party (PAK – Paati ‘A e Kakai) bigwig and convicted criminal ‘Etuate Lavulavu. The only constituencies that are regarded as a priority for the roading project are those which voted for the PAK.
The control and manipulation of information has worsened under Prime Minister Tu’i’onetoa.
They were elected to Parl’t under PTOA banner
PM Tu’i’onetoa, MP Vātau Hui and MP Poasi Tei breached their promise to the people that they were with the PTOA Party in the last snap election. When Democrat leader ‘Akilisi Pōhiva died they defected and joined the Noble MPs in a premiership election in which voters did not have a say.
It is important for voters to confirm in this upcoming election where they want their MPs to stand in terms of party line and political blocs.
If the people can bring pressure to bear on their MPs to vote for the Prime Minister of their choice then we will truly have a chance to elect the best people to Parliament.
The number of new community cases has reached triple figures for the first time, with 102 cases reported today.
Photo: 123RF
The Health Ministry said 94 of the cases were in Auckland and eight in Waikato. Thirty of the cases are household contacts.
Forty of the new cases remain unlinked and there are 199 unlinked cases in the past 14 days.
There were 60 new community cases yesterday.
The Ministry said all of the Waikato cases were in the Te Awamutu area. Seven have already been linked to known cases.
One of the Waikato cases travelled to Hawke’s Bay last Friday, but returned to Te Awamutu before testing positive.
At today’s media conference, Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield confirmed there were no known positive cases in Hawke’s Bay.
People in the Te Awamutu are being urged to get tested if they or anyone in their household has symptoms, or if they have travelled out of Te Awamutu over the past week for work or other activities.
Dr Bloomfield asked for more people to come forward for testing in Waikato, as only 3000 swabs were taken yesterday.
There are 46 people in hospital with Covid-19, including seven in intensive care.
Two cases were reported at the border, including one historical case.
There have been 2260 cases in the current community outbreak and 4956 since the pandemic began.
Dr Bloomfield said the harms for Covid-19 fall much more on those who are unimmunised
“UK data shows that of 40,000 patients hospitalised in the six months to the middle of this year in the UK, 84 percent of those people hospitalised hadn’t been vaccinated and only 3 percent of cases in hospital were fully vaccinated.”
He said the data for New Zealand was similar.
Dr Bloomfield updated guidance for allied health professionals working in settings outside district health boards and hospitals clarifies that they can provide services under alert level 3. This will enable about 2000 people in Auckland alone such as psychotherapists, osteopaths and chiropractors to provide services to those who need it.
They will continue to provide tele-health services where that is most appropriate, he said.
This week is also infection prevention control week, and Dr Bloomfield acknowledges the “huge dedication and effort” of IPC professionals working on the front line.
By Amy Williams of RNZ.co.nz. Republished with permission.
An Auckland inner city hotel and restaurant operator has decided it will take only guests who are fully vaccinated from November.
The Hotel Britomart, including its restaurant Kingi, is introducing a vaccine mandate ahead of any government licence to do so.
The hotel’s owner also operates The Landing, a luxury holiday accommodation in the Bay of Islands, which is also part of the vaccine mandate.
Its general manager Clinton Farley said they were taking the position to keep their staff and guests safe.
“We’ve decided to take a stance on mandating vaccines across our entire team,” he said.
“We’re mandating that all our suppliers and contractors and visitors whether they be guests or restaurant patrons also are double dosed and able to provide evidence of that before setting foot on our property.”
He said the legal ramifications have been considered and the decision to introduce a vaccine mandate was not taken lightly.
Farley said anyone who could not prove their vaccine status would be turned away.
“Prior to arriving at the hotel we send out a number of communications, whether that be on our website or booking engines, and we also ask people to confirm that they have been double dosed vaccinated,” he said.
“If they arrive at the hotel or restaurant without evidence of such we will not be able to check them into the hotel or allow them to dine at our restaurant.”
Other businesses are not so bold.
The hotel sector is urging the government to pave the way for its members to require both staff and guests to be fully vaccinated.
The Hotel Council Aotearoa has formally asked the ministers of tourism and finance to pass legislation to make vaccine mandates legal in the hotel and hospitality sectors.
Its strategic director James Doolan said many business owners do not want to carry the legal risk and are waiting on government advice.
“I’m hearing from members that they would like to introduce vaccine mandates but it’s important that the government takes the lead and passes legislation confirming vaccine mandates by hotels and other hospitality venues would be legal,” he said.
“Earlier on in the fight against Covid the government passed legislation confirming that the lockdowns were legal and I think it’s perfectly reasonable for hotels and hospitality venues to ask the government to pass similar legislation confirming that vaccine mandates are legal too.”
Doolan said he hoped the government’s announcement on Friday would include a vaccine mandate for the hotel and hospitality sectors.
“No appreciation of history and heritage. Whoever planned this could have preserved this icon and build around it,” another wrote.
