Auckland to move to Alert Level 2, rest of New Zealand to move to Alert Level 1
UPDATE
17 February
4.53pm
The rest of New Zealand will return at Alert Level 1 at 11.59pm tonight. Jacinda Ardern and Ashley Bloomfield are currently providing an update to media at a post-cabinet press conference.
Here's what you need to know:
- New Zealand will return to Alert Level 1 with Auckland moving to Alert Level 2.
- These restrictions will be reviewed February 22.
- There has been an additional 1 case confirmed, with the positive case a member of the same household bubble.
- New locations of interest have been loaded on the Ministry of Health website.
_________________________________________________
UPDATE
16 February
1.09pm
There are no new community cases Ashley Bloomfield confirmed in a 1pm update today. There are no new cases in MIQ facilities.
___________________________________________________
UPDATE
15 February
4.20pm
Jacinda Ardern and Ashley Bloomfield are currently providing an update to media at a post-cabinet press conference.
Here's what you need to know:
- The Prime Minister says there's a variety of scenarios on how the virus got into the community. To date, health officials are still attempting to establish the source of the outbreak.
- 42 people have been identified as close contacts.
- The first batch of Pfizer vaccines - 60,000 doses - arrived this morning on a Singapore Airlines flight.
- Vaccines will be offered to border and MIQ workers from this Saturday.
- This will be the largest vaccine programme in New Zealand's history, Jacinda Ardern says.
___________________________________________________
UPDATE
February 15
1.36pm
The Ministry of Health has confirmed five new cases of Covid-19 in managed isolation. There are no new community cases.
___________________________________________________
UPDATE
February 15
8.18am
The Ministry of Health has confirmed that the first two February cases are the highly infectious UK strain. There is no link to any MIQ infections.
___________________________________________________
All regions outside Auckland have moved to Alert Level 2.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern addressed the nation at 7.00pm Sunday, announcing all regions excluding Auckland, will move to Alert Level 2 from 11.59pm tonight.
Here's what you need to know:
- Gatherings of more than 100 people are prohibited.
- Mask use is encouraged when it is difficult to maintain physical distancing.
- From 11.59pm tonight, travel to Auckland will no longer be possible with the heightened alert level - unless you are returning home.
- The full list of rules under Alert Level 2 can be found here.
- Here's the full list of locations of interest where the cases visited.
Neighbourly will update this message as further information comes to hand.
Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......
Head for bed
Short on space? Why not make a slatted headboard finished in Resene Colorwood Whitewash and incorporate shelves that can be moved into position as a side table between the slats.
Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.
Education changes: Area schools ‘copping it from all directions’
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A North Canterbury principal says area schools are ‘‘copping it from all directions’’ with Government changes to education.
Amuri Area School principal Matt Barlow has written to Education Minister Erica Stanford to ask whether the pace of change can be slowed down.
Area schools cover all year levels from new entrants to year 13, tend to be smaller and are based in rural areas, meaning they face pressures to implement curriculum changes across the board.
‘‘Schools like Rangiora High School don’t have to worry about year 1 to 3 literacy and numeracy, and primary schools don’t have to worry about changes to NCEA.
‘‘We are a bit of an afterthought. Area schools are like an airport and principals are like air traffic controllers, with planes coming from all directions.’’
While some rural school rolls are falling, Amuri Area School is managing a growing roll.
The roll has jumped from 335 to 380 students since the start of 2023, which includes its largest roll of year 7s (50) and year 13s (22).
Barlow said the school is working with the Ministry of Education to design a new building for science, technology and arts classes.
No budget or timeframe has been decided.
Amuri Area School is in Culverden, on the way to Hanmer Springs, and the relative isolation adds to the challenges.
The relief teacher pool is limited, meaning Barlow and his two deputy principals have had to step into the classroom several times this year.
Roger Hornblow became principal at Cheviot Area School in term four last year, having been a long serving primary school principal.
‘‘Area schools are very complex and I don’t think it is appreciated by everybody.
‘‘We are dealing with the NCEA changes and the year 0 to 8 changes. It is really complex.
‘‘But that is part and parcel of the beast and we need to make sure we do it in a way which give students the best outcomes.’’
It means professional development is constant, and Hornblow is pleased with how his staff are stepping up.
He would like to see ‘‘a unified education policy’’ which did not change every time there is a change of Government.
The New Zealand Education Institute Te Riu Roa and the New Zealand Principals' Federation also called on the Government last week to slow down the implementation of new structured math and English curriculum.
New NCEA literacy and numeracy online tests have also come under fire from secondary school principals around the country.
Education Minister Erica Stanford said extra support is being provided to area schools in North Canterbury, with curriculum advisors visiting schools, assisting with teacher only days and providing webinars.
The schools also have the support of the ministry's area school leadership advisor Stephen Beck, who is taking a year out from his role as principal at Hurunui College.
"Support will be ongoing as the local team looks to ensure our rural area schools have the assistance they require to implement and embed these changes."
But she said introducing structured literacy and numeracy will take time, especially for schools teaching it for the first time.
"Embedding a curriculum refresh, running professional development and responding to our sector feedback are things we will work on together over the coming years."
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Loading…
