The total number of cases in the current community outbreak is 922.
There were also three new cases in managed isolation.
Eighteen people are in hospital. Four are in ICU.
Dr Bloomfield said no staff or patients have returned a positive test following the three community cases announced last night.
The person who tested positive at Middlemore Hospital last weekend has nine other family members who have tested positive, providing a clear link to the wider outbreak, Dr Bloomfield said.
“I just want to emphasise the importance of anyone who needs care for any reason to seek that care,” Dr Bloomfield said. “I want to reassure people that our hospitals are safe.”
Dr Bloomfield said the total number of unlinked cases in the outbreak is 34, with eight of those among today’s cases.
There are 16 subclusters in the current outbreak, and seven are considered contained. Six are contained among family and household transmission. Of yesterday’s 23 cases, 11 are household contacts of other cases.
Cabinet is meeting tomorrow to consider any changes to alert levels with Auckland currently at alert level 4 until 11.59pm on Tuesday and the rest of New Zealand at alert level 2.
The Ministry of Health issued a statement last night stating that three people who presented to Middlemore Hospital this week have tested positive for Covid-19. Those cases follow two other cases that were connected to the hospital in recent days.
Church leaders from various dominations which have large numbers of Tongan followers have launched a campaign urging people to get their COVID-19 vaccinations.
They were concerned about misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines being spread on social media amongst their communities.
The Methodist Church New Zealand said in a statement: “Our research satisfies us that the ethical and safety questions surrounding the vaccine are far outweighed by the potential risk to those we serve”.
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent the following message to Church members around the world:
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
“We find ourselves fighting a war against the ravages of COVID-19 and its variants, an unrelenting pandemic. We want to do all we can to limit the spread of these viruses. We know that protection from the diseases they cause can only be achieved by immunizing a very high percentage of the population.
“To limit exposure to these viruses, we urge the use of face masks in public meetings whenever social distancing is not possible. To provide personal protection from such severe infections, we urge individuals to be vaccinated. Available vaccines have proven to be both safe and effective.
“We can win this war if everyone will follow the wise and thoughtful recommendations of medical experts and government leaders. Please know of our sincere love and great concern for all of God’s children.”
The Wesleyan Methodist Church New Zealand said in a statement published on its official website the church is encouraging our people to lead the way in receiving the blessing of a COVID-19 vaccine here in New Zealand.
“Our unique position in the world offers Aotearoa-New Zealand the very real opportunity to be COVID-free over coming months. Whether that occurs will largely depend on the nation-wide take-up of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“The vaccine ensures the ongoing safety of those who are vulnerable and will enable us to reopen to the rest of the world over time. This opportunity is available because of the God-given talents of the experts who have led the way in responding to this global crisis.
The Wesleyan Methodist Church is encouraging our people to lead the way in receiving the blessing of a COVID-19 vaccine here in New Zealand. We are doing so because:
We are committed to loving our neighbours, many of whom are vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19 should it gain a foothold in New Zealand;
We serve communities in vulnerable parts of the nation especially in the southern and western areas of Auckland City;
The ongoing social and economic harms arising from the pandemic need to be addressed as soon as possible;
A ranking of an institution of higher education by Times Higher Education (THE) is the ultimate recognition of excellence that an institution can aim for.
The University of the South Pacific (USP) has achieved two accolades by being ranked for 2022 and secondly being the only institution of higher education in the Pacific to gain this recognition.
All USP graduates of the 12 member country states can look back and appreciate the wisdom of the decision to establish the USP with the main campus at Laucala.
Fiji as the host of the main campus continues to be the largest beneficiary in terms of graduates and financial income and has much to be grateful for.
I am an alumni and a grateful Fijian!
This kind of recognition takes a team and every team has a captain.
Vice-chancellor and president Professor Pal Ahluwalia is the captain that took the university across “the finishing line” that won us “gold”.
In this journey he has acknowledged the contribution of the many who played a part in this achievement that is about all of us Pasefikans.
Congratulatory messages have been received from alumni, current and former staff members, stakeholders and generous donors inclusive of messages from the member governments of Nauru, Samoa and Tuvalu to date.
The silence from the leadership of the country hosting the largest campus that also leads the Pacific Islands Forum is deafening to say the least!
Should we live in hope?
Nevertheless this will not detract from USP’s status as the most successful example of regionalism in the Blue Pacific as it continues to “Shape Pacific Futures”.
Long live USP!
Dr Elizabeth Reade Fong is chief librarian at the University of the South Pacific. This letter was first published in The Fiji Times on 10 September 2021.
There have been 23 new cases of Covid-19 in the community reported in New Zealand today, more than double the amount reported yesterday.
There was no media conference today. In a statement, the Ministry of Health said some volatility in the case numbers was likely at this stage as “we expect some changes in the numbers as day 5 and day 12 tests for contacts of cases are due, and we do further investigations of any new unlinked cases”.
“This does serve as a strong reminder of the importance of following the Covid-19 alert level rules wherever you are, and to get tested if you have any symptoms or have been at a location of interest at the specified times.”
All of today’s cases were in Auckland and 14 of them have been epidemiologically linked to previous cases.
There are now 19 people in hospital, with four in ICU or HDU.
The total number of cases linked to the community outbreak is now 902.
There was also one new case reported at the border today.
There have now been a total of 3534 cases of the coronavirus in New Zealand since the pandemic started.
In other news today, an MIQ worker at the Holiday Inn facility in Auckland has tested positive for Covid-19 during routine testing, and more than a dozen new Covid-19 locations of interest have been added to the list today.
Primary schools in Auckland were among many institutions across the country taking up the call by the Ministry of Pacific Peoples to embrace Tongan language week online.
Aupito William Sio. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas
This year’s Uike Lea Faka-Tonga or Tongan Language week was a virtual affair because of the nation-wide lockdowns for Covid 19 said Minister Aupito William Sio.
The theme is Fakakoloa ‘o Aotearoa ‘aki ‘a e Ako Lelei, which in English, it means, Enriching Aotearoa New Zealand with holistic education.
“Of course, right now, learning the traditional way – such as attending school or university – was on hold due to the current Covid-19 restrictions.
“Alert Level 4 and 3 means students must learn from home, and follow the golden rules,” Sio said.
Aupito said education is highly valued in the Kingdom of Tonga and this year’s Tonga Language Week explores the importance of education and how Aotearoa can benefit.
“Holistic education completes the picture for many people – this knowledge gives them a sense of wholeness, and confidence in their own identity,” he said.
Glenbrae Primary School Principal Christina Patea Photo: Supplied
Glenbrae Primary School in Glen Innes is a part of the Manaiakalani Education Trust – a community of learners, whānau and educators in the Auckland suburbs of Glen Innes, Pt England and Panmure (collectively known as Tāmaki) who embarked on a project to raise student outcomes and build capacity and engagement through the combination of media and digital technologies and effective teaching practice.
Its principal Christina Patea said that meant the transition to move Tongan language week online was smooth and the students adapted extremely well.
“It’s just great to see our students who are proud of their culture and heritage be able to share this with our community even if it’s not face to face,” she said.
“Our Tongan whānau have really gone all out with decking out their lounges with the colour red, doing their Tongan dances and singing hymns with pride.
Glenbrae Primary School is predominantly Māori and Pasifika with a high percentage of Tongan families and Patea explained that it was very important for the school to acknowledge the Tongan culture.
“Part of the theme this year is about learning from the home and lockdown has done that, we’ve learnt a lot from the Tongan families who shared the culture with us in the virtual way.
“It is a tough time being in lockdown, and so this week of celebrating a culture has helped bring smiles to a lot of people in our community,” Patea said.
Valerie & Lisa Adams celebrating Tongan Language Week 2021 with Nga Iwi School Photo: Supplied
Nga Iwi Primary School in Māngere have been hosting daily Zoom every day this week at midday and on Wednesday’s video conferencing session the students had a surprise New Zealand celebrity guest join in.
“We were very honoured to have the presence of Valerie Adams and her sister Lisa jump on our Zoom this week to celebrate Tongan language week with us,” Principal Michelle Fepuleai said.
She explained that Valerie is the niece of one of their Tongan staff members and they were grateful she made time for them while she was in managed isolation quarantine.
“She spoke first about her upbringing in Māngere, being an Olympian and representing New Zealand, but also carrying the Tongan flag close to her heart and her inspiration, which she said was her late mother,” she said.
Stanhope Road Primary School in Mt Wellington has over 60 cultures in their community, with a third being Pasifika and Tonga being the largest ethnic group in the school.
Leilani Salesa is a teacher at Stanhope Road, and she said because the celebration of the Tongan language has moved online, the staff decided to get students into positions of leadership and expertise and lead the content that was shared online on their Facebook page.
“We had our juniors doing activities like spelling out Tongan words using resources they found at home.
“We were getting multi-generational videos where grandparents and parents support their children to participate in learning new Tongan words,” she said.
Salesa shared that the staff members participated in the fun too by sharing a video of them all attempting the language in their bubbles.
“We have no Tongan teachers in Stanhope, but that didn’t stop us from researching into the culture, so that we can lead by example for our students.
“As part of the action plan for Pacific Education, we want to enable every teacher at our school to do their best by Pacific learners,” Salesa said.
Valerie Adams joined in on Nga Iwi School’s celebration online for Tongan Language Week 2021 Photo: Supplied
Tongans make up 1.7 percent of New Zealand’s population, with our Pacific population expected to reach 414,000 this year.
A mother has made an emotional plea for forgiveness for those involved in an alleged attack of his son in Australia earlier this week.
Paea Tome (L), Siaki Tome
Paea Tome said what had happened to her son was so heartbreaking because he was asking for money to buy some food before the attack happened.
“Let’s move on and forgive each other,” she said during a Facebook livestream this afternoon from Tonga.
Her son Siaki Tome was subjected to what appeared to be an unprovoked attack on Monday night in Australia.
As Kaniva News reported last night, a man, Sini Piu claimed Siaki was asking for some money from his pay.
Siaki’s mother said today, her son was asking Piu if he can pay him his two-day working hours in advance because he wanted to buy some food.
A livestream video clip released by Piu on the night of the attack, showed he was talking to Tome.
It appeared Piu was having a party with another friend.
The livestream video clip, which was seen by Kaniva News, came to an abrupt halt after what appeared to be an altercation while Piu was trying to break it up.
An apology
Piu later posted an apology to Facebook and attempted to clarify the situation. He claimed the livestream was cut off after he was trying to stop a friend from allegedly attacking Tome.
Siaki’s mother said today she has forgiven the accused.
“I am the mother and I can tell you it was so devastating when I saw on Facebook to what had happened to my son,” Paea said in Tongan.
She pleaded with the community to keep the peace.
Fundraisings
Footage of the alleged attack spread rapidly online, where Tome has received an outpouring of support.
It is understood other groups including the PTOA Kolope Foundation were fundraising for Tome and they are expected to release the details soon.
Tome is adopted by her maternal grandmother. She has received donations in Tonga from Tome’s supporters and former high school classmates.
Two days after the Go Fund Me page was set up well-wishers have donated more than TOP$26,200 (NZ$16,400) accompanied with heartfelt sentiments from the Tongan community and beyond.
One supporter wrote that while he didn’t know Tome they wished their small donation can help.
“No human is supposed to be treated the way you have been,” they wrote.
Others sent condolences to him and his mother who is in Tonga.
“We support you and hope you find justice and new hope for a better future.”
The Pope has joined his voice to those of Bishops across North and South America to urge people to get jabbed against Covid-19.
In a video message produced in conjunction with the Ad Council, Pope Francis praised the work of researchers and scientists in producing safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines.
“Thanks to God’s grace and to the work of many, we now have vaccines to protect us from Covid-19,” he said in the video released on Wednesday.
He added that vaccines “bring hope to end the pandemic, but only if they are available to all and if we collaborate with one another.”
Vaccination is an act of love
Pope Francis went on to say that getting a Covid jab that is “authorized by the respective authorities” is an “act of love.”
Helping other do the same, he said, is also an act of love. “Love for oneself, love for our families and friends, and love for all peoples. Love is also social and political.”
The Pope noted that social and political love is built up through “small, individual gestures capable of transforming and improving societies.”
“Getting vaccinated is a simple yet profound way to care for one another, especially the most vulnerable,” he said.
Pope Francis then prayed to God that “each one of us can make his or her own small gesture of love.”
“No matter how small, love is always grand,” he said. “Small gestures for a better future.”
Listen to our report
‘Strength of faith’
The Pope was joined in the video by several Cardinals and Archbishops from across the Americas.
Archbishop Jose Gomez, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Archbishop of Los Angeles, lamented the suffering and death the pandemic has wrought across the globe.
He prayed that God might “grant us the grace to face it with the strength of faith, ensuring that vaccines are available for all, so that we can all get immunized.”
Mexican Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes linked Covid-19 jabs to a better future for all.
“From North to South America, we support vaccinations for all,” said the Cardinal.
Safe, effective vaccines
Honduran Cardinal Rodriguez Maradiaga said the world has much to learn from the coronavirus.
“But one thing is certain: the authorized vaccines are effective, and are here to save lives,” he said. “They are the key to a path of personal and universal healing.”
Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes praised the “heroic efforts” of health professionals in developing “safe and effective” jabs.
He also repeated the Pope’s affirmation that “getting vaccinated is an act of love”.
Salvadorian Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez said vaccination helps protect the most vulnerable.
“Our choice to get vaccinated affects others,” he said, adding that it is a moral responsibility.
Unity across the Americas
Peruvian Archbishop Miguel Cabrejos rounded out the testimonies contained in the video with an appeal to unity.
“We are united—North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean—to promote and support vaccination for all,” he said, encouraging everyone to “act responsibly, as members of the great human family, seeking and protecting our integral health and universal vaccination.”
A funding campaign has raised more than TOP$22,300 (NZ$14,000) within 24 hours to help a Tongan man who was allegedly assaulted after asking for money in Australia.
Siaki Tome. Photo/Screenshot
His mother has also received donations in cash and food in Tonga after the incident.
Siaki Tome was subjected to what appears to be an unprovoked attack on Monday night.
Sini Piu claimed Tome approached him asking for works. It has been claimed the incident occurred after Tome had asked Piu for money to be paid in advance from his pay.
Unconfirmed reports said Tome was after an unpaid wage from Piu.
Piu was overheard in a livestream video clip talking to Tome about the money.
The livestream video, which was seen by Kaniva News, came to an abrupt halt after what appeared to be an altercation while someone was trying to break it up.
An apology
Piu later posted an apology to Facebook and attempted to clarify the situation. He claimed he was trying to stop a friend from allegedly attacking Tome. Piu said he and Tome were having fun and he had given him some money.
Footage of the alleged attack spread rapidly online, where Tome has received an outpouring of support.
There are 15 new community cases of Covid-19 in the country today, Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield has revealed.
Speaking at today’s media conference, Dr Bloomfield said there were now 855 cases in the current community outbreak and 218 cases were deemed to have recovered.
There are 37 cases are in hospital, six in ICU and four are on ventilators.
There was also one Covid-19 case to report in a recent returnee today.
Ongoing investigations by Auckland Regional Public Health has resulted in a total number of unlinked cases to 25, an increase of one from yesterday, Dr Bloomfield says.
Only two of today’s new cases are yet to be linked. He said investigations into those unlinked cases were continuing and he expected those numbers to fall.
Analysis of yesterday’s 20 cases shows that 19 were contacts of known cases and of those 15 were household contacts already isolating and not active in the community, Bloomfield said.
Five people yesterday were potentially infected in the community with 127 exposure events – over half were related to central workplaces.
On contact tracing, slightly more than 38,000 individuals are in the system still, Bloomfield said. About 87 percent of them have had a test.
Yesterday, there were 13,230 swaps processed around the country – 8566 were taken across metro Auckland.
DNA has led police to at least 300 people who could be related to a baby girl who was left at an Auckland recycling centre.
The body of the newborn was discovered by workers at the Onehunga site on the evening of 16 August. A bag of baby clothes was also found in the rubbish.
“Working with the ESR forensic scientists, a sample was obtained from the baby girl,” Detective Inspector Scott Beard told Checkpoint.
“They have come up with what’s called a familial DNA link, which means that … if we speak to the right people we will identify a relative, or the mother or father of that child, from the database that ESR has given us.
“We have in excess of 300 names on that list, but we have created a matrix, we’ve worked with our Behavioral Science Unit… so we are prioritising what we’re doing and who we’re seeing.”
The DNA database is stored and held by ESR, Beard said, and the number of possible links is from across New Zealand.
“As yet the mother hasn’t come forward, nobody, no family, no friends have come forward to tell us who we’re looking for. That’s what we want.
“As soon as we find the mother and find out what’s going on, we can release the baby girl, so she can have the funeral that she deserves.
“We’re hoping that the mother or someone who knows will come forward, he or she can come to us through an intermediary, through a counselor or someone, because there’s no doubt she’ll need some emotional support, whether she needs some medical support, we don’t know. But, looking after her interest has to be the first thing.”
Detective Inspector Beard said it is not yet known if the baby was alive at birth.
“Pathologists are still waiting for some toxicology tests to come back, before we get their final opinion in a report.”
He said there were 100 recycling trucks that came into the Onehunga facility on the day the baby was found. Police have focused their inspection of CCTV footage to the trucks closest to the time the blue bag was discovered, with the baby and several items of clothing.
“The bag was close to where the baby was found at the time, and when we go back through the CCTV footage of the recycling plant, you can see the bag close to the baby.
“Inside that bag were some baby clothes. Now we can’t 100 percent say that is linked, but we have to investigate that aspect.”
An early verbal report from the pathologist suggested the baby had not been born at a hospital or a medical centre.
Beard said there is no evidence to show who exactly put the baby into a bin or bag that ended up at the recycling centre.
“We don’t know what circumstances there are. It could be completely innocent circumstances. There’s a whole range of reasons why this could happen.
“We want to find the mother, but more importantly we want to also lay this baby to rest with some dignity and respect and love that she deserves.”
