Tēnā tātou katoa ki ngā whānau whānui o Wakatū
With ANZAC Day on Saturday, and as we head into the final days of Alert Level 4, and move to Alert Level 3, it is a time for reflection, and remembrance.
We remember those that we have lost in previous conflicts, and while the current situation means that we will not be able to attend traditional ANZAC dawn ceremonies together, we can find other ways to commemorate and remember, such as Stand At Dawn taking place from 6am. People can join by standing at their letterbox, front door, lounge rooms or other places while staying within your bubble. You can listen to the official dawn service broadcast commencing at 6am on RNZ National, or via the internet.
You can also join a 40-minute virtual remembrance ceremony to remember our whānau who fought in the 28th Māori Battalion.
The ceremony will start at 9.45 am Saturday 25 April. To join the service via Zoom, click here https://zoom.us/j/91812723793
It is also time for reflection, not only on the changes that have happened in the past four weeks, but on what changes and challenges we will face collectively and individually in the weeks and months to come.
For many people, the change in alert levels will mean the ability to re-open their business or to go back to work, but for many others, there will be ongoing uncertainty and stress.
To help our most vulnerable who have been impacted by COVID-19, this week we launched Kaupapa Atawhai, a joint initiative with our iwi and hapū entities in Te Tauihu:
We wanted to come together to provide a quick response grant to provide some immediate assistance to our most vulnerable whānau who have been impacted by COVID-19 and the resulting government restrictions – such as our kaumātua, those who are unwell, and those who may have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
Kaupapa Atawhai is on top on what we have already been doing as individual organisations across the country.
To find out more, and if you or your whānau might be eligible for Kaupapa Atawhai grant, visit www.wakatu.org/kaupapa-atawhai
Project Kōrero
Our Owners’ Liaison and Manaaki teams are continuing with Project Kōrero, where they are making phone contact with Wakatū families, first in Te Tauihu and then around the motu.
This project is about making connection, checking in, and helping people, in particular our kaumātua, connect with the support and services they need.
A great example of advocacy on behalf of our kaumātua is the work that Celia Hippolite-Hawea did to ensure that some of our vulnerable and isolated kaumātua received their flu vaccination. In the course of checking in with whānau on Rangitoto ki te Tonga, Celia discovered that some kaumātua were worried about how they were going to get their flu vaccination.
Celia coordinated with French Pass residents, Whakatū Marae and Nelson Marlborough District Health Board. It was a real team effort – Whakatū marae provided a vehicle so that two Wakatū owners, Nita-May and Patariki Hippolite could drive and assist two nurses from the NMDHB to take the service to French Pass where the nurses undertook COVID-19 health checks and gave the flu vaccinations.
Just under 40 residents from Te Aumiti, Rangitoto ki te Tonga, Bulwar, St Kilda, Cissy Bay, Ngaio Bay, Elmslie Bay Te Towaka, Ngamuka, Manukapapa came by barge, boat and car to receive the vaccination.
Left to right: Barge approaching the French Pass ramp, NMDHB team on the beach, Nita-May Hippolite., drive-through vaccination
Make sure your contact details are up to date
Our teams will continue checking in with whānau in the coming weeks.
If you haven’t already, please update your details so that we are able to contact you. You can update your details by emailing info@wakatu.org or by calling 03 546 8648
Freshly picked apples from the Kono Horticulture orchards in Motueka
Our role as an essential business
Across Wakatū, our businesses continue to operate, with people working at home and across our operational sites. We are preparing now to move to Alert Level 3 on Tuesday 28 April.
Because we are an Essential Business, for us, Alert Level 3 will look and feel the same as Alert Level 4.
Across all of our work sites, we will continue to apply the same stringent rules and protocols we are following now under Alert Level 4.
This is because these rules will help keep our people safe, and stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community. In everything we do, we continue to acknowledge the privilege and responsibility of operating as an Essential Business.
Together apart
COVID-19 is a global pandemic, with all countries impacted in some way. We all have whānau and friends who are apart from us, who we are worried about, or they are worried about us. With domestic and international travel likely to be limited for some time, there are going to be many whānau who will continue to be separated from their loved ones.
In many ways, at Alert Level 3, we will need to be even more vigilant as we work together as a country to support each other and eliminate COVID-19.
So I encourage you connect by phone, social media, or video call and say kia ora to those who you cherish, and continue to keep them safe by keeping your distance.
Kia kaha,
Kia maia,
Kia manawanui,
Paul Morgan
Paul Morgan
Chair, Wakatū Board