Council Staff redeployed during Lockdown

The page contains a profile on two Council Staff who have been re-deployed from their normal roles to assist with the Civil Defence freephone service during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Updated: 28/04/2020 5:53 p.m.

​Council staff are helping people who call the Northland 0800 Civil Defence number (0800 790 791) to get food, medicine, and other essential supplies. The 0800 number was set up by the Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, in response to the difficulty faced by many in our community during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Kerina Cook has been redeployed from her normal role as Support Assistant – Building Inspections to help answer the regional number.

“Being on the 0800 Civil Defence number has been very sad at times to hear of people in hard situations, but also very rewarding to be able to help. I feel very grateful for what I have during this time.”

Central and Outreach Services Librarian Shelley Hammond is also helping with the welfare effort, delivering food vouchers to those in need around the District.

A total of 134 Council staff have been classified as essential workers during the lockdown and of these 81 have been given permission to work in the field keeping core services running and supporting the Civil Defence welfare effort.