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It's been a tough last few weeks, right? When life gets hard and the world gets scary, it's our loved ones we turn to for support.
But this extraordinary coronavirus pandemic is different. Many of us can't see our most special friends and whānau because we want to … View moreHi Neighhours,
It's been a tough last few weeks, right? When life gets hard and the world gets scary, it's our loved ones we turn to for support.
But this extraordinary coronavirus pandemic is different. Many of us can't see our most special friends and whānau because we want to keep them safe, and we want to get through this as a nation by following social distancing and Covid-19 Alert Level 3 rules.
While thousands of people are returning to work, visiting friends and family outside of your bubble may still be off the cards for some time longer.
Do you have a message for someone you can't see in person? A shout out to a sibling or best friend? A much-loved and missed grandparent? A new baby you need to virtually cuddle?
Level 3 Love Letters is an opportunity to share a video message for a loved one on Stuff.
You can upload your video here so we can share it with them and New Zealand
Five cases of coronavirus previously considered part of a separate cluster have now been linked to t…
Waitematā DHB says it's apologised to families of patients on the ward and it's planning to change its rosters for nursing staff. It comes after three nurses at the hospital tested positive for the disease. They requested to management that if they worked in the COVID-19 ward that they … View moreWaitematā DHB says it's apologised to families of patients on the ward and it's planning to change its rosters for nursing staff. It comes after three nurses at the hospital tested positive for the disease. They requested to management that if they worked in the COVID-19 ward that they shouldn't also work in wards that were free of infection. However, their concerns were ignored. As a result, staff worked on the COVID ward one day - which is Wing A in the Muriwai Ward - and then on the Older Adults Rehabilitation Ward, or Wing B, the next day. Now six elderly patients in the previously virus-free ward are considered probable cases. Chief medical officer for Waitematā DHB Dr Jonathan Christiansen says there are plans to care for these patients. "They will be managed in strict isolation on the presumption they have COVID," Dr Christiansen says.
The DHB says it had regional clinical backing that such a rostering system was safe, but it's now changing its policy so nurses working on the COVID ward work exclusively there. Auckland University Associate Professor Mark Thomas is an infectious diseases physician at Auckland Hospital and says he's not aware of what type of pressures managers at Waitakere could have been under, but it's clear the DHB's original policy was problematic. "I can imagine the sort of things that might have led them to make that decision, but it was obviously an unfortunate decision, and so yes it's proven to be wrong," Thomas says. Capital and Coast and Hutt DHBs say staff who care for COVID-19 patients "are not involved in the care of non-COVID cases". Thomas says the Health Ministry should have set advice for all hospitals. "Over many years the Ministry of Health has tended to run down a lot of its abilities to deal with this sort of situation and hasn't put as much effort into supporting public health." The Waitematā DHB says it's called the affected families on the previously virus-free ward. "All those calls to families were made to explain the situation and to apologise that their loved ones were put in that situation," Dr Christiansen says. But at this point, there has been no apology for putting staff in that situation, something that NZ Nurses Organisation president Kerri Nuku believes should happen. "Staff deserve an apology from the management and we need to see there are constructive ways moving forward. That it's not just lip service but action in the right direction," Nuku says.Dr Christiansen s ays "it's disappointing" staff haven't raised issues with him or other management. But nurses have told they raised concerns with their managers over many weeks.
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The government is temporarily amending immigration law to make it more flexible and responsive to challenges posed by Covid-19.
It will introduce a bill to Parliament on Tuesday, to support more "efficient management" of visa changes.
The bill introduces eight time-limited powers … View moreThe government is temporarily amending immigration law to make it more flexible and responsive to challenges posed by Covid-19.
It will introduce a bill to Parliament on Tuesday, to support more "efficient management" of visa changes.
The bill introduces eight time-limited powers allowing it to:
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• Impose, vary or cancel conditions for classes of temporary-entry visa holders
• Vary or cancel conditions for classes of resident-class visa holders
• Extend the expiry dates of visas for classes of people
• Grant visas to individuals and classes of people in the absence of an application
• Waive any regulatory requirements for certain classes of application
• Waive the requirement to obtain a transit visa
• Suspend the ability to make applications for visas or submit expressions of interest in applying for visas by classes of people
• Revoke the entry permission of people who arrive either on private aircraft or marine vessels (to align them with people who arrive on commercial flights, who can already be refused entry)
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Oliver Christiansen's dad lay dying and asking: "Where is my boy? Where is my boy?" But Christiansen couldn't see him - he was subject to the Government's mandatory 14-day isolation period after arriving in New Zealand on April 23 on a flight from the United Kingdom. … View moreOliver Christiansen's dad lay dying and asking: "Where is my boy? Where is my boy?" But Christiansen couldn't see him - he was subject to the Government's mandatory 14-day isolation period after arriving in New Zealand on April 23 on a flight from the United Kingdom. Christiansen spoke today about his "eight days of battling and about 36 hours to spare" before his father Anthony Christiansen, who had brain cancer, passed away. The case has led Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to order a review into all 24 cases whereby a request to see a dying relative during lockdown was refused by health officials. When he left his family in London, Christiansen thought he had time to sit out the quarantine in New Zealand before spending his father's last days with him. "Things were still looking okay. We thought we had plenty of time to see out the 14 days," he said. But his father's condition deteriorated rapidly. Doctors gave Anthony, a retired associate High Court judge, only a few days to live and suddenly it was a race against the clock. Christiansen, who had no symptoms of coronavirus, applied to the Ministry of Health to allow him to see his dying father on compassionate grounds. The ministry, after first mistaking what Christiansen was asking for, repeatedly refused. An email reply to Christiansen read: "...there is just nothing we can change at this time. 14 days isolation in managed facilities is a mandated requirement in force in New Zealand". Christiansen then directly emailed Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield and the Minister of Health David Clark. Bloomfield responded within an hour and a half saying he will refer the letter to the managed isolation team to "carefully consider the information". But again he was denied for a third time. Christiansen also asked for a Covid-19 test - but was refused because he had no symptoms. Today, he said the unwillingness of authorities to test him for Covid-19 was extremely frustrating, as it seemed a "logical step". So Christiansen went to court to challenge Bloomfield and the ministry's refusal to allow him to cut short his quarantine period. "It just seemed like continual automatic rejection which fortunately meant the courts were a last avenue for a final roll of the dice," he said. Meanwhile, his father's health kept going downhill rapidly. His family was "increasingly desperate" for him to get home so he could farewell his father – and vice versa. From his quarantine hotel, he could almost see his family's Auckland home just 5–6km away.
The courts recognised how precious time was, he said, and pushed through his case. At a hearing on Friday in the High Court at Auckland, Justice Tracey Walker said the ministry got it wrong. She said it was "difficult to envisage more compassionate grounds than those presented here". Christiansen told he was able to spend just over a day with his father before he passed away. When he finally got to see his father, it was an emotional time. "It was a massive relief to be able to join the family in time," he said. "There was a lot of emotion, a lot of release – anguish, grief, everything rolled into one. "It makes you realise, in hindsight, just how critical it is that you're there at that time." Justice Walker said in her ruling, released today, there was "a very strong argument" to allow Christiansen to visit his dying father after it was "not considered on the correct legal grounds and did not take account of relevant mandatory considerations". "It had the hallmarks of automatic rejection based on circumscribed criteria rather than a proper exercise of discretion required by the Health Act (Managed Air Arrivals) Order," she said. The judge said the Ministry of Health's decisions to decline permission were, on their face, "legally flawed on more than [one] basis".
"Had the correct approach been followed, Mr Christiansen's application may have successfully come within the compassionate grounds (with low risk of transmission) or exceptional circumstances categories," Justice Walker said. The judge said, in her assessment, overall justice "demands an effective and swift response". She ordered the ministry to permit Christiansen to leave managed isolation to visit his father. But he could only do so if he traveled unaccompanied by car to his dad's home and remained there until his father died. Christiansen was also told to maintain physical separation from other family members at the home and to return on his own within 24-hours of his father's passing in the same car to the isolation facility for the remainder of the 14-day period. Justice Walker further told him to ensure any necessary cleaning and/or quarantining of that private car is carried out, to wear personal protective equipment, including gloves and a face-mask, to comply with any monitoring requirements by police or officials, and to comply with any other reasonable conditions directed by the Ministry to reduce any risk of transmission. The judge also considered the question of "the appropriate deference to the expertise of the decision makers in a time of unprecedented public crisis". "No matter how necessary or demonstrably justified the Covid-19 response, decisions must have a clear and certain basis," she said.
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💥View the webinar about “What I Learned Reading 30 Books on Money & Investing“. If you want to retire early, you’re probably thinking about how much you’ll need, and how much you can safely take out each year.
Watch these practical tips that you can apply today.
📚YOU WILL LEARN:… View more💥View the webinar about “What I Learned Reading 30 Books on Money & Investing“. If you want to retire early, you’re probably thinking about how much you’ll need, and how much you can safely take out each year.
Watch these practical tips that you can apply today.
📚YOU WILL LEARN:
1) Must Read Books for You to Achieve Financial Freedom
2) The Rule of 25 and How 4% Safe Withdrawal Works
3) Simple, Actionable Steps that Can Increase Your Net Worth
youtu.be...
This year New Zealand Music Month will be a little different. There will be no live gigs (in person at least) and no congregating in our favourite music venues to celebrate the wonder of local music together. These times will come again. But like many others, the music industry will be challenged … View moreThis year New Zealand Music Month will be a little different. There will be no live gigs (in person at least) and no congregating in our favourite music venues to celebrate the wonder of local music together. These times will come again. But like many others, the music industry will be challenged by the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact.
To show our support for New Zealand music we are sharing some of our favourite posters showcasing Auckland bands and iconic Auckland music venues. These posters offer a glimpse into Auckland’s anarchic, door-kicking punk and new-wave scenes that stomped their way into the city’s late 70s - early 80s musical landscape.
These posters also show how music venues changed and morphed over time, shedding their previous identities and inhabiting new ones. For example, the iconic Edinburgh Castle Hotel on the corner of Symonds Street and Newton Road has had many identities over its 160 years and for the briefest of moments, it was the “notorious” Liberty Stage.
New Zealand Music Month celebrates 20 years this year. For this, and plenty more NZ Music Month discoveries, take a look here.
Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni announced this morning the Winter Energy Payment for 2020 runs for 22 weeks, from 1 May to 1 October, and doubles to $1400 for couples and $900 for single people this year. “The Winter Energy Payment started as part of the Government’s December 2017 … View moreSocial Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni announced this morning the Winter Energy Payment for 2020 runs for 22 weeks, from 1 May to 1 October, and doubles to $1400 for couples and $900 for single people this year. “The Winter Energy Payment started as part of the Government’s December 2017 Families Package designed to help older New Zealanders and many of our poorest families heat their homes over winter,” Ms Sepuloni said. “When the impact of Covid-19 first hit, the Government set out a $12.1 billion dollar support package for New Zealanders and business. It was within this package that we increased benefits by $25 and doubled the Winter Energy Payment. “A core part of the Government’s response to Covid-19 is to ensure families stay healthy and focused on their wellbeing, which is good for them and good for our health service.” Ms Sepuloni added that those on lower incomes generally spend any extra money on household items that keep their families well, and so doubling the Winter Energy Payment will act as an immediate stimulus in local economies. “The efforts of our team of five million helped to get us in a good position to tackle the virus and we each continue to have a role to play as we begin to reboot our economy for the good of all New Zealanders. “The Government is here to support those who need it.” Ms Sepuloni said about 850,000 people will benefit from the changes with more than one million kept warmer once children and other household members of recipients are included.
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From Tuesday 5 May, Waitākere Refuse and Recycling Centre will be open to the public for limited services – Monday to Friday 8am-6pm and Saturday 8am-4pm. If your visit is not urgent, please hold onto your waste until a later date as there are considerable delays and long queues.
When coming, … View moreFrom Tuesday 5 May, Waitākere Refuse and Recycling Centre will be open to the public for limited services – Monday to Friday 8am-6pm and Saturday 8am-4pm. If your visit is not urgent, please hold onto your waste until a later date as there are considerable delays and long queues.
When coming, please remember:
• A face mask, gloves, and covered footwear must be worn. No entry without it.
• You must unload your own waste. Once on-site, please unload as quickly as you can.
• No more than two people per vehicle. No children.
• Contactless payment only. No cash.
• Hazardous waste, insulation dust, polystyrene, car batteries, fluorescent tubes, and asbestos are not accepted.
• Check Google Maps for live updates on wait times.
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Visit aucklandcouncil.govt.nz for more information.
Beds 4 U thanks all the essential workers that are braving Covid-19 dangers and serving us tirelessly. Beds4U will giveaway 10 Ortho Cool Gel Pillows to the essential workers so they can also take a restful nap/sleep. Let's do our bit and honour our Superheroes. Thank them by extending a … View moreBeds 4 U thanks all the essential workers that are braving Covid-19 dangers and serving us tirelessly. Beds4U will giveaway 10 Ortho Cool Gel Pillows to the essential workers so they can also take a restful nap/sleep. Let's do our bit and honour our Superheroes. Thank them by extending a #AGiftOfSleep. Click the link below and head to our Facebook page and tag an essential worker and share with us a gratitude note. You can tag yourself as well if you are an essential worker and leave a comment to let us know what drives you to keep going in such tough times.
www.facebook.com...
An Auckland fire department made a special rescue on the weekend and saved a newborn kitten from an …
Did your mum transform rainy days into hot chocolate and bad moods into giggles?
Show you care, whether she’s with you or far away.
Enter our Mother’s Day competition before 6 May 2020 for a chance to win!
Too many memories to choose from? Here’s our team with some inspiration.
Follow this … View moreDid your mum transform rainy days into hot chocolate and bad moods into giggles?
Show you care, whether she’s with you or far away.
Enter our Mother’s Day competition before 6 May 2020 for a chance to win!
Too many memories to choose from? Here’s our team with some inspiration.
Follow this link to enter our competition.
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A body found in West Auckland bush on Friday was that of missing person Calvin Wicksteed. Police sa…
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