Source: Auckland Council
As we pass 10 weeks in lockdown, Auckland Council is encouraging Aucklanders to get out and about and enjoy the weekend, while sticking to the guidelines. Our top 10 tips to keep you entertained and safe are below.
Auckland Council staff supporting lockdown efforts
Early on in this lockdown, Auckland Emergency Management (AEM) established a welfare triage centre, in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and Northern Region Health Coordination Centre (NRHCC).
Along with direct phone calls from the public, referrals from MSD/Work and Income and referrals from NRHCC, the team makes outbound calls to those isolating, to give advice and assist them in getting the support they need.
Referrals are then made to other agencies/organisations to get people the right care, whether it is food or health needs. In some cases, AEM has directly provided households with essential food support.
Auckland Council COVID-19 Response Lead Controller, Mace Ward says 127 Auckland Council staff have been redeployed to assist with the welfare response.
“This lockdown has seen a lot of people needing support, and our people are keen to help.
“September alone saw demand on foodbanks up 10 times on pre-lockdown levels, and we’re still seeing demand around seven times higher than pre-lockdown levels.
“From 9 September to 22 October, council delivered 2,950 grocery packs to food organisations across Tāmaki Makaurau. These are substantial packs, enough for 4-6 people for up to 2 weeks, to cater for larger households.
“From early October, council’s catering team has provided around 1,450 ready-made salad and sandwich packs per week to Auckland City Mission.
“A big thanks to the community lead organisations and funding from central government to make this happen and support those Aucklanders in need.”
Alert Level 3 Step 1 top tips
To help you make the most of the weekend and get out and about Auckland, here are some top tips to ensure you stay safe and, most of all, help us all stick to the COVID-19 guidelines.
For more information on what you can and can’t do under Alert Level 3 Step 1, visit the COVID-19 website.
- Stick to your bubbles – socialise outdoors, two bubbles only and a maximum of 10 people.
- Get vaccinated – the more protection we have against COVID-19, the more freedom it gives us.
- Stay local – you can travel throughout the region, but consider staying in your local area. Travel to Waiheke and Aotea Great Barrier is prohibited unless you are a resident.
- No staying at the bach – taking off to the bach or holiday home is not allowed.
- No overnight trips – return home every night.
- Use public toilets respectfully – don’t flush unflushable items and help keep our loos in working order for everyone’s convenience.
- Look after our regional parks – more people means more pressure on these open spaces. Use and look after kauri dieback hygiene stations and observe all track closures. Use the QR codes provided or manually record where you’ve been using the COVID-19 tracer app.
- Enjoy one of our many walks – pick a walk, track or trail that allows you to stick to the Alert Level 3 guidelines.
- Check before you go – many tracks in the Waitākere Ranges are closed due to slips or kauri dieback protection. Whatipū Rd is closed to everyone (except residents).
- Together at home – discover all the great activities Auckland Council offers, that you can do in your own home or backyard.
For more information on our top tips, visit OurAuckland.
About our foodbank support
- Foodbanks across the region have been providing food parcels to people that are unable to work, make ends meet and feed their families due to the restrictions of Alert Levels 3 and 4.
- Foodbanks are supplemented by government funding provided through the MSD Community Food Response Fund, and the generosity of fundraisers and donors.
- The council has played a supporting role in providing welfare assistance, including providing small top-ups to foodbanks, using its connections to bring agencies together and tapping into some of the council’s resources that are unable to be used at Alert Levels 3 and 4.
- Through Auckland Emergency Management and our other connections with the government, we have been reaching out to foodbanks and community organisations to make sure they have what they need.
- Sometimes that has meant connecting a foodbank with a supplier or funding source; other times we’ve needed to provide a small number of grocery packs to tide them over until a new food delivery or funding grant comes in.
- We have also been able to make some of our community venues available for foodbank packing and distribution, and some of our people, driving council vehicles, have assisted with deliveries.
