Whānau, there have been some updates to the official tangihanga guidelines during Alert level 4, and additional resources have been added to the Ministry of Health website in regard to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements for essential workers. 

Updated tangihanga guidelines during Alert Level 4
Over the past week there have been some changes to the guidelines relating to tangihanga during Alert Level 4. This new set of guidelines from the Ministry of Health is intended to ease restrictions on whānau already struggling with loss, while maintaining the overall requirements of Alert Level 4. It allows for whānau who were in the same isolation bubble as their deceased loved one to go with the tūpāpaku to the funeral home and then to the urupā also.

John Whaanga, Deputy Director-General Māori Health, and his team are continuing to work with trusted experts to ensure whānau feel heard, understood, and supported throughout this pandemic.

Further guidelines for whānau on what to do during Alert Levels 3, 2 and 1, will be sent out over the coming weeks. It is also important whānau are aware that should things change during the Alert Level 4 lockdown, we may be required to review these guidelines again.

Click here to read the latest guidelines.

Whānau, we know the official guidelines for tangihanga during Alert Level 4 are a significant change to how we normally do things. However, now is the time to do all we can to overcome COVID-19. Kia tū kōtahi tātau.

We encourage you to read these guidelines and to let us know if you have any pātai.

PPE for essential workers
Many of our whānau are continuing to do mahi as they provide essential services to the rest of the community.
 
The Ministry of Health has put all the information you need to know about PPE in one single page on their website. Click here to read. The content on this page provides guidance for all essential workers across a variety of work settings.

The page includes:

  • Tips on how to keep you and your whānau safe as an essential worker
  • PPE and hand hygiene posters
  • PPE and handwashing videos
  • More information for specific groups such as community-based midwives and health care workers at border-control.

Flu vaccinations
Free flu vaccinations are available for kaumātua aged 65 and older, pregnant women, and other people with serious health conditions like severe asthma, diabetes, heart, lung and kidney problems or cancer. Tamariki with a history of severe respiratory illness are also eligible for free vaccination.
 
Please encourage your at-risk whānau, especially kaumātua, to get their free flu vaccines as soon as possible. The flu vaccination won’t protect whānau from COVID-19, but it will help protect against influenza.