Last updated: Wednesday 1st April 2020

COVID -19 advice for Iwi

Marae, hapū and iwi are central to supporting whānau Māori.
It’s important that marae, hapū and iwi have access to consistent information about how to manage COVID-19, particularly with regards to tikanga, hui and tangihanga.

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The information provided by Te Rōpū Whakakaupapa Urutā has been developed by leading Maori medical health experts including Primary Care Specialists, Public Health Experts, Public Health Physicians, Māori Nurses, iwi leaders.

The Four-Alert System of COVID-19.

We currently at Alert Level 4 – Eliminate.   

This means that there are people who are sick with COVID-19 in Aotearoa but have had no link to people who have returned from overseas.

This is called “Community Transmission”.

What does Community Transmission mean?

Community Transmission is when people in the community get sick with COVID-19 but have had no contact with people who have returned from overseas. 

Our doctors and medical experts are no longer be able to easily identify a group of people who could have the disease.

There will be a growing number of people with the disease who have no link to people who have travelled overseas.

Its important to know that some people will get sick, and others might be carriers.

If someone is a carrier, this means that they will have no symptoms but they can still spread the disease to others.

Keeping a safe distance, washing your hands regularly and no hongi, kihi and awhi will be more important than ever.

What will my whānau and I be able to do?

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You and your whānau will need to stay home and avoid all unnecessary travel.

If you live in a community where COVID-19 has been indetified, you will need to limit your travel around your community.

You can still leave your whare to go for a walk, but if you see anyone, you must stay at a safe distance (2metres or more).

Your tamariki’s kohanga reo, early education centre, school, kura or university are now closed.

Public venues have closed – libraries, museums, cinema’s, gyms and pools.

All non-essential businesses, like takeaway’s, are now closed.

Essential businesses such as supermarkets and pharmacies will remain open.

If I need to go to the supermarket or the pharmacy, how do I keep myself safe?

To keep yourself safe, you should:

• Wash your hands before you go

• Keep a safe distance (of 2 metres) from others at the supermarket or pharmacy

• Wash your hands before putting your kai away

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