Stay safe and stay calm as Omicron spreads
Omicron is here and Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy is reminding locals to stay calm and be safe.
Earlier in the week two locations of interest were posted in Upper Hutt and last week St Patrick’s Silverstream sent 100 boys home after they were deemed close contacts of a year 12 student, who was a positive case. Guppy says it “is only a matter of time” before Omicron becomes widespread in the community.
He is reassured by the high vaccine numbers and is confident the city will cope.
“Our people have generally been very good at following the precautions and public health measures. Upper Hutt has strong vax numbers and people are getting boosted.”
He says it is more important than ever that people now do the right thing.
“We’ve started talking to our community, through our social media channels, about self-isolating at home when the time comes, things to prepare in advance, that kind of thing.”
He says people should not be panicked by Omicron.
“We do not need to be anxious or frightened. This next phase is about getting on with life.”
The reality, he says, is that we need to learn to live with Omicron. It is already having a negative impact on the local economy and “where possible” he urges people to continue to shop local.
“Our retailers, particularly in the hospitality, are noticing a drop in foot traffic with everyone working from home so if you can still pop in and get your takeaway coffee as an example, they’d love your support.”
It is important to remember to wear a mask, social distance and always scan in, he says.
He has one final plea for locals – get vaccinated and if you have not already done so, get your booster.
The reality is, he says, that the best way to beat Omicron and get back to normality is to get vaccinated.
Worst Xmas ever?
There's a a lot of planning that goes into Christmas day and sometimes things just don't go to plan. But it can be a good thing - a family mishap or hilarious memory that you can laugh about in Christmases to come.
Whether you burnt the dinner or were stranded at an airport...
Share your Christmas mishaps below!
Tai Chi News 2025 Issue #01
Happy Holidays from Not Strictly Tai Chi !
Huge THANK YOU to all who attended my Tai Chi classes during 2024.
If you're already missing them, then you may be looking forward to more Tai Chi in the New Year? (I know I am)
We often start back well before other Tai Chi clubs, and the same is true is 2025, as we return mid January
See attachment for details
Newcomers, beginners, and people from other Tai Chi groups welcome
see you there
Andrew Hardwick
Tai Chi Instructor
Member of NZ National Tai Chi Ch'uan Association Inc.
Call 0211532508 for more info
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️