Glendene, Auckland

1538 days ago

Should everyone in managed isolation wear an electronic bracelet? What do YOU say?

Brian from New Lynn

Health Minister Chris Hipkins is not ruling out the use of electronic bracelets for those in managed isolation after a third person allegedly escaped in the space of six days. The Government is tightening monitoring of those in managed isolation facilities after Queenstown man Martin McVicar, on … View moreHealth Minister Chris Hipkins is not ruling out the use of electronic bracelets for those in managed isolation after a third person allegedly escaped in the space of six days. The Government is tightening monitoring of those in managed isolation facilities after Queenstown man Martin McVicar, on Thursday night, allegedly jumped down the Distinction Hotel fire escape, eluded police and made a mad dash for booze in Hamilton. But Hipkins said the All-of-Government response had already improved significantly from a man's escape from a facility in Auckland on Tuesday night, when health officials failed to provide timely advice to the Countdown that the man had visited.
By the time the Health Ministry was in touch, Countdown had already viewed CCTV footage, shut shop, completed a deep clean and chosen to self-isolate 18 staff members. "The health communication with Countdown was certainly too late in the piece," Hipkins said. "It does not meet my expectations around the speed of the response and that message has been well understood by all of the relevant health officials." The Health Ministry was quickly part of the response in Hamilton, and should be part of every such response, he said. The Government would be making announcements about ways to tighten up monitoring of those in managed isolation, but Hipkins wouldn't be drawn on the use of electronic bracelets. The use of such bracelets has been floated University of Otago public health expert Professor Nick Wilson. "New Zealand needs to learn all the lessons possible from the apparent failure of quarantine systems in Melbourne. New Zealand could also explore the benefits and costs of the use of electronic bracelets for people, as used in Hong Kong," Wilson said. The bracelets in Hong Kong are mandatory and correspond to an app. If someone tries to break quarantine, it issues a warning. Wilson said the focus should be on the system failures - for example, inadequate fencing or security - rather than the individuals involved. "All systems should be designed to account for the whole range of human behaviour – including people who don't follow the rules." It has been 70 days since the last case of community transmission, and there are two new cases yesterday - both contained in managed isolation facilities. The first case is a man in his 20s who arrived on June 28 from India, while the second is a man in his 20s who arrived on June 27 from England. Both tested positive on their day 12 tests. There are now 23 active cases of coronavirus, none of whom require hospital care. On Thursday there were 2575 tests, still well short of the recommended 4000 daily tests, and Hipkins said the numbers would ramp up in coming days. Part of the reason the testing was too low, he said, was that GPs had told people to get tested but they were being turned away by clinicians at community-based assessment centres (CBAC). Every person showing up at a CBAC with a GP's instruction to be tested should be tested, he said. There have been three escapes out of just under 28,000 people in total who have come through quarantine and managed isolation facilities. "I don't accept people knowingly and willingly breaking the law represent a flaw in the system. These are not maximum security prisons. These are hotels," Hipkins said. "If someone broke into your house and stole all of your stuff, and then turned around and said, 'Well, you should have had better locks,' I don't think anyone would accept that." He said the increase in facility breaches could be an indication of the type of New Zealanders now returning from overseas. "There are fewer families coming through, there are more single people coming back, there are more people who have more complex health needs." He wouldn't be drawn on the reasons for McVicar's alleged escape. The staffer of the Hamilton liquor store who served McVicar said: "He walked in and bought a four-pack of Leffe Blonde and a pinot noir." McVicar, 52, appeared in the Hamilton District Court via audio visual link yesterday and faced a charge of intentional damage of a 52-inch TV and intentionally failing to comply with an order under the Covid-19 Public Health Response Act by leaving a managed isolation facility and purchasing alcohol. He was remanded in custody and denied bail. He will reappear in court on July 15.
Last Saturday, a woman jumped two fences at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland shortly before 6.20pm and was located soon after a couple of blocks away at 8pm on Anzac Ave. She is appearing in the Auckland District Court on Monday. On Tuesday night, a man sneaked through a gap in the fence at the Stamford Plaza in Auckland and visited a Countdown before returning 70 minutes later. He has also been charged. There is now meant to be 24/7 police presence at every one of the quarantine and managed isolation facilities, as well as a lead security person at each facility.
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1535 days ago

Regional Cooking Day

New Zealand School of Food & Wine

Unlocking the cuisines of other cultures with the Advanced Cookery students on their last day with us. The dishes included scrumptious Korean Fried Chicken, Malaysian Nasi Lamek with anchovies and peanuts, Indonesian Beef Rendang, Okonomiuaki classic Japanese pancake with pork belly, Cambodian … View moreUnlocking the cuisines of other cultures with the Advanced Cookery students on their last day with us. The dishes included scrumptious Korean Fried Chicken, Malaysian Nasi Lamek with anchovies and peanuts, Indonesian Beef Rendang, Okonomiuaki classic Japanese pancake with pork belly, Cambodian pancakes stuffed with turmeric, shrimp, lettuce and Sour cherry dumplings from Ukraine.

L
1535 days ago

KING SINGLE LOGAN & MASON DUVETS & INNERS KING SINGLE DUCKDOWN DUVET

Lorraine from Henderson

KING SINGLE LOGAN & MASON DUVETS & INNERS WAFFLE CREAM $20 each set
KING SINGLE DUCKDOWN DUVET $30 also Cotton Queen Duvet cover $5
wool cushion $5 KING SINGLE DUVET BROWN & WHITE $5
ALSO PILLOWCASE SETS $2 per set 0211224859

Negotiable

1537 days ago

The funniest video I have seen for a very long time😂🤣😂🤣

Fiona from Henderson

We all need a really good laugh, especially on these cold days & nights.
Enjoy 😀😄
www.youtube.com...

1539 days ago

Poll: Should Kiwis be entitled to more sick leave?

The Team Reporter from Stuff

With Covid-19 still a very real risk, people who are unwell are told to stay home, and to keep any sickly kids home too - but what if you don't have any more sick leave owing?

Most Kiwis are entitled to five days of sick leave a year, but some - often those in lower paid jobs - get less.

View more
With Covid-19 still a very real risk, people who are unwell are told to stay home, and to keep any sickly kids home too - but what if you don't have any more sick leave owing?

Most Kiwis are entitled to five days of sick leave a year, but some - often those in lower paid jobs - get less.

New Zealand’s minimum sick leave allowance is one of the lowest in the OECD. In Australia they get 10 days, in most European countries it’s even more.

Should Kiwis be entitled to more sick leave?

To read more, click here.

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Should Kiwis be entitled to more sick leave?
  • 59.7% Yes, five days is not enough
    59.7% Complete
  • 14.3% No, I never use mine up anyway
    14.3% Complete
  • 25.9% Entitlement should be assessed on a case-by-case basis
    25.9% Complete
5716 votes
1538 days ago

Do you think golliwogs should be sold at local markets?

Denise Piper Reporter from Western Leader

A market in Kerikeri will no longer have golliwogs for sale, after complaints the dolls are a racist stereotype of black people. But some people say the dolls are a harmless reminder of childhood. What do you think?

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1536 days ago

Next Glen Eden Probus Club meeting

Barrie Lee from The Combined Probus Club of Glen Eden

We welcome all visitors to our next meeting Friday 24 July 2020, Phone Brian (09)838 5857

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1560 days ago

'Carless' apartments looking for tenants

Colleen Hawkes Reporter from Homed

This is the changing face of housing in our suburbs as determined by Auckland's Unitary Plan. But this pioneering project in Sandringham is for renters, not buyers.

1536 days ago

Paint it red with Resene for Red Nose Day!

Resene

Buy any red testpot from your local Resene owned ColorShop between 13-31 July 2020 and Resene will donate $1 to CureKids Red Nose Day!

The more red testpots you buy, the more will be donated! Offer applies to all retail purchases of Resene red testpots (excludes metallics and wood stains).

View more
Buy any red testpot from your local Resene owned ColorShop between 13-31 July 2020 and Resene will donate $1 to CureKids Red Nose Day!

The more red testpots you buy, the more will be donated! Offer applies to all retail purchases of Resene red testpots (excludes metallics and wood stains).

Help us make a difference to the health of kiwi children.
Find my store

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1536 days ago

Travellers, including returning Australians, arriving in New South Wales will now have to pay AU$3000 towards the cost of their quarantine.

Brian from New Lynn

The move was announced on Friday by the state premier Gladys Berejiklian. "Australian residents have been given plenty of time to return home, and we feel it is only fair that they cover some of the costs of their hotel accommodation," Ms Berejiklian said. The new rules apply to anyone … View moreThe move was announced on Friday by the state premier Gladys Berejiklian. "Australian residents have been given plenty of time to return home, and we feel it is only fair that they cover some of the costs of their hotel accommodation," Ms Berejiklian said. The new rules apply to anyone who boards a flight after midnight on July 12, regardless of when they arrive in NSW, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. The charges will start at AU$3000 for the first adult and AU$1000 for additional adults. Children aged three and over will be charged AU$500 per child. Travellers will be invoiced at the end of their quarantine period. The SMH reports over 35,000 people have passed through quarantine since March 29 with the bulk of them transiting through Sydney. In June New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told The AM Show it was not clear if the Government could legally charge people for quarantine. "This is the only place many people can legally reside, so if you put up a wall and say 'you cannot come home' or place up barriers to coming home, that does have legal implications for us. It's not a simple thing to work through." Ardern defended Kiwis leaving it this late to come home, saying many would only have decided to return after losing their jobs overseas, in places where they might not have support systems. Others would be coming back now for family reasons that might not have existed in March. She said any charge on returning Kiwis would not be intended as a deterrent.
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