Coco Talanoa — Coco News / Page 39

“I’m not lonely but I am alone,” says JaeD Victor, describing what it’s like during the Covid-19 lockdown period while living alone.

The Samoan broadcaster has been living by himself for ten years so he’s use to having his own space. But he says the self-isolation period during the Covid-19 crisis has been different, mainly because his public movements are limited and he’s forced to work from home.

“I thought I was going to enjoy working from home but the unfortunate thing is when you’re home you have so many distractions. You stop work and go and have a nap or go into the kitchen. What I’ve come to realize under these circumstances is how self sufficient you become when you live by yourself.”

The 55-year-old has type 2 diabetes and knows the importance of the level 4 self isolation period. He says experiencing it alone can be challenging.

“I don’t have any visitors and because you live alone during these restrictions, you can sometimes feel your friends and family don’t realize you’re here.…more

For three Fijian youngsters - Zion, Israel and Jeda’iah - there’s been a silver lining during the Covid-19 lock down period - no school.

Although the response from the Pickering-Thakathaka siblings maybe typical for a child, they are all aware of the importance of the actions taken by the New Zealand Government.

“We understand why this is happening,” says 12-year-old Israel “It’s to keep us safe and to stop us from getting the disease and stop others from spreading it.”

The siblings live in a three-bedroom Auckland home with their 11-month-old brother, their parents, an Aunt and their grandmother. The last four weeks have been a routine of prayer, home schooling and daily chores. They’ve even managed to paint a fence and tidy up their grandmother’s garden. Their situation is similar to many other Pacific children who share a home with their extended family. The siblings say they only need to look at their little brother and their grandmother to fully understand the people they’re trying to protect.

“I do feel frustrated at times,” says 15-year-old Zion.…more

Mama Secretary goes through the Alert Level 3 conditions with the Kuki Airani dancers she's got on lockdown with her.

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Watch Mamas Lockdown here 

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CREDITS:

Shot, Directed, Edited and acted by Rongomai

FB: Ron-Go

YouTube: Rongomai Taiapa-Aporo

Insta: rongo___

The CoconetTV ongoing Pacific Islands updates for our community in Aotearoa and the Pacific region.

To catch up on updates from Week 1 click here , Week 2 click here , Week 3 click here, Week 4 click here & Week 5 click here 

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End of week round up - 

NEW ZEALAND - The Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Monday that NZ Is on lockdown Alert Level 4 until 11.59pm on Mon 27th April.  The country will then move into a strict Alert level 3 for a further two weeks.  

See how it all goes down when these Kuki dancers have to go into lockdown with Mama!  

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Watch Part Two here 

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CREDITS:

Shot, Directed, Edited and acted by Rongomai

FB: Ron-Go

YouTube: Rongomai Taiapa-Aporo

Insta: rongo___

Samoan GP Dr Maryann Heather has been working extremely long hours on the frontline during the Covid-19 crisis, tending to patients at the South Seas Clinic in Otara.

What motivates Dr Heather is knowing she is helping the Pasifika community during these troubling times. She also takes comfort that the Pasifika community has the lowest infection rate of Covid-19 in New Zealand. To date, less than five percent of those infected have been Pacific Peoples and Dr Heather wants to keep those numbers down.

“Our Pasifika community is one of the most vulnerable. If this virus hits our community and the numbers start to rise, then it would be extremely hard. Many families would be affected.”

At home, Dr Heather lives with nine family members, including her 80-year-old aunt and her young nieces and nephews. She takes extra care each day when she goes to work,-ensuring she is wearing all the protective gear and has minimal physical contact with her patients and other staff on the frontline.…more

#SocialDistancingTips!  How far is 2 meters really? How much washing of ourselves do we still need to do?

Your papu does not have to be boring!  Here's some handy tips for social distancing now that we're back in Alert Level three! 

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Click here for Covid-19 information translations in all Pasifika languages 

Click this link for an interactive map on where to find a vaccination clinic near you here in New Zealand https://karawhiua.nz/all-clinics/

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Video Credits:  

Director/Editor - Twayne Laumua 

Actors - Darryl Laumua & Iosefa Enari 

In this video, Disciple Pati teaches us how to survive the hardest battle in lockdown; the battle of the siblings.

Her four tips will show you how to dodge a fight with your sister so that you don’t get yelled at by your Dad (and simultaneously dodging a jandal round the head), alongside how to deal with the snarky comments and a bad attitude.

Siblings can give you the best and worst times of your life - and being stuck with them is sure to make life in lockdown .... interesting.

Survival depends on being smart, not strong - and Pati’s tips will get you through it!

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Shot & Edited by Sapati Apa 

Featuring Sapati & Hinauri Apa 

The Pasifika Medical Association through Pasifika Futures (PFL) – the Whānau Ora commissioning agency – is aware of multiple Pacific groups currently displaced in New Zealand due to the nation’s level four lockdown and the closures of neighbouring Pacific borders.The organisation has been working with their Covid-19 SupportPartners across the country to ensure these groups are being kept safe and are supported during the lockdown.

A Cook Island mother and her 15-year-old daughter are among those that PFL have identified and are working with Mount Wellington Integrated Healthcare to ensure they are taken care of.  “In normal circumstances, we would usually stay with our family in Auckland but in this case, we couldn’t do that because we had to go into isolation,” Rachel explained.
Rachel and her daughter arrived in New Zealand on 24 March after they had been evacuated from Rarotonga due to the daughter experiencing Covid-like symptoms.

Upon arrival in New Zealand the pair went to Middlemore Hospital where the daughter was examined and later tested negative for Covid-19.…more

We're now into the 5th week since the World Health Organisation upgraded the Coronavirus to a Pandemic.  We will be updating this page with Pacific Islands updates for our community here in New Zealand and around the Pacific.  To catch up on updates from Week 1 click here , Week 2 click here , Week 3 click here & Week 4 click here 

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FRIDAY 17th APRIL 

NEW ZEALAND - 8 new cases of Covid-19, two confirmed, six probable. New total is 1409. Two more people have died. One in Waikato hospital. And one woman in Burwood hospital.  Total deaths in New Zealand is now 11. Seven of the 11 who have died are from the Rosewood rest home.  816 reported cases have recovered. That's an increase of 46.

14 people are in hospital with Covid-19, three are in ICU. Two of the ICU patients are in a critical condition - that's unchanged from yesterday.…more