Coco Talanoa — Coco News / Page 44

A total of 5166 Covid-19 Support Packageshave been delivered to vulnerable families across New Zealand, providing support to 27,829 individuals. Eighty-two percent of families who received support packages reside in the North Island.

South Auckland based health care provider, Pacific Homecare– a Pasifika Futures and Whānau Ora COVID-19 Support Package Partner – has delivered support packages to over 400 families since the nation went into lockdown.

Whānau OraManager at Pacific Homecare, Rauna Murray-Stowers said himself and his team of eight navigators have received over 700 requests from families in need of a COVID 19 support package.

“For the first couple of weeks wegave grocery vouchers and Covid-19 health information to families, as we haven’t been able to get all the physical supplies we needed. There’s been a lot of demand and not enough supply in the supermarkets. We got grocery supplies this week so we can start assembling packages and delivering these to families next week.

“Our packages include cereal, canned foods, hygiene products, toilet paper, noodles, corn beef...mainly staple foods and essentials.…more

As confirmed numbers of Covid19 cases in Aotearoa start to decline, Pacific case numbers rose to 54 on April 11th, and our Pacific medical communities are worried that not enough Pacific people are being tested and that our high risk communities still aren’t practising lockdown rules. 

Dr Rawiri Taonui expressed his concern on the Waatea news site around Maori and Pacific Covid 19 case numbers and testing data, saying that the current Pacific testing percentage of 7.2% is ‘based on a single primary identity’ meaning that the multi ethnic Pacific population is missing and our communities are being under counted 

Dr Taonui says that the current model of testing data does not count at least 60,000 Pacific people from the 2018 Census and that the Ministry’s reluctance to release DHB data by ethnicity reflects a white risk-management approach to data and information for Māori and Pacific communities. 

“Information is not a privilege.…more

A new website dedicated to providing information for Pacific communities across New Zealand has been launched to help stop the spread of Coronavirus.

PreparePacific.nz  is supported by Counties Manukau Health, Auckland District Health Board, Waitematā District Health Board, Northland District Health Board, Ministry of Health and The Cause Collective.

The aim of the site is to provide up-to-date and relevant information that supports the fight against COVID-19 but in a one-stop shop portal and from Pacific perspectives.

Counties Manukau CE, Fepulea’i Margie Apa says Pacific peoples are faced with a lot of mixed messages about Covid19, and PreparePacific.nz will help them find what they need in one place.

“Our Pacific communities told us they have to look at many different sources to find information which at times is difficult to understand,” says Apa. “We listened to their insights and designed PreparePacific.nz around their needs.”

Features include panels in Pacific Island languages, health messages from Pacific doctors, contacts for family and sexual violence, financial support information and a list of essential services and Pacific providers.…more

It seems the Pacific Community from South Auckland have proved themselves very health conscious, with the testing station in Otara becoming one of the busiest in Auckland since it's opening on Saturday 4th of April. 

On its first day of operation, the site had the largest number of people tested in Auckland, with about 80 tests, says the chief executive of South Seas Healthcare, Lemalu Silao Vaisola-Sefo. Based at the Otara Shopping Centre carpark, Otara has averaged around 100 tests per day.

Lemalu, who is a member of the Pasifika Medical Association, says the high numbers show the demand within the Pasifika community to get tested. He says accessibility is now less of a barrier, with additional stations in South Auckland located in Takanini and Mangere.

“For a lot of our Pasifika families, it’s about having peace of mind and making sure they are keeping their families safe. So it’s important that we are here,” he says.…more

More than a year on from his horrific Covid experience, Geoff Muliaga has this heartfelt message for our Pasifika people

"Talofa lava, Last year changed my perspective on this COVID-19, so be responsible don't ignore the signs. Get vaccinated, build a wall so you are able to fight this virus and it's capability. Protect yourself, well being, on-going health and aiga.…more

We're now into the 4th 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 

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FRIDAY 10th APRIL 

NEW ZEALAND - A Christchurch woman in her 90s who was living in the Rosewood rest home is the country's second death from Covid-19, the Ministry of Health has confirmed.  

Director of Public Health Caroline McElnay said the "frail" woman could not have family around her in her last couple of days, because they were not allowed at the facility in Burwood Hospital.  "However, hospital staff were able to provide her with comfort and support, and we thank them for that"

McElnay also said the number of new cases in New Zealand has risen to 44 - 23 new confirmed and 21 new probable cases.…more

The water is strangely calm today outside the Maritime Auckland Museum. Looking out onto the two waka that held the heroic feet of Ema Siope, I watch as they sit vivaciously in the dock, bobbing up and down. I feel as though I have to keep an eye on them, or else they might break out and sail away at any moment. Anna Marbrook, the director of Loimata, joins me, and notes that Ema knew every inch of the waka that sits before us, and it seems as though they continue to embody her energy to this day - ready to move with the ocean and speak with the stars. 

Ema Siope is a navigator, a wayfinder, a true sailor, who used the stars and traditional (some might describe them as ancient) navigation techniques to sail the seas. Dr. Tamasailau Sualii- Suani speaks of her power as both a polynesian and a woman, “Ema is an amazing master navigator who has been able to really be a champion in a world that is largely male...…more

The spread of the Covid-19 virus and the compulsory self-isolation period has dramatically changed the way we live, with restrictions on how we socialise and gather as a community.

One area that has had a devastating impact on our families is the strict restrictions on the funeral and burial process when loved ones die during this period. The Ministry of Health has banned all public funerals and burials and in most cases, bodies are buried between 24 to 48 hours after death.

“This has been the hardest time in my entire career,” says Tongan/Maori funeral director Francis Tipene, who also fronts the popular reality show The Casketeers. “It’s been heartbreaking to uplift someone from a home or the hospital and telling their family that would be the last time they will see their loved ones.”

This week, Francis and other funeral directors challenged the strict guidelines, knowing how difficult it was for Pasifika families who were in mourning. Changes were made, allowing family members living in the same household as the deceased, to attend a funeral service and burial.…more

Manase Lua, National Manager Kanorau / Principal Advisor Pasifika shares an important message for those who are breaking the rules and gathering for Kava sessions - 

To my fellow kava drinkers and regular kava club goers, please listen to the authorities. The more of you breaking the rules and meeting secretly to have kava together, the higher the risk of transmission of the Coronavirus into our communities. These are your parents, sister, aunts, grandparents and kid’s lives you are playing with. Your selfish actions could actually kill people, your people, your own family members. That’s how serious this thing is. Save lives. Stay home. Drink kava online with friends. The faster we beat this virus, the fast we can return to our normal tradition of drinking together.…more

List of Food parcel / banks and support groups in the Auckland region still operating during the lockdown.

Plus 'Know Where to Go' 

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AUCKLAND WIDE 

The Fono (Pasifika only)

COVID-19 Pacific Family Package, call 021956633 or 0800 366 648 and email socialservices@thefono.org

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Auckland Council

Aucklanders unable to afford groceries or in self–isolation with no access to other support networks can call 0800 22 22 96 between 7am and 7pm, seven days a week. Callers must meet government criteria for assistance.

Auckland City Mission

If you need a food parcel call the Auckland City Mission on (09) 303 9266 and speak to the Crisis Care team. You will then be given a time to collect from the Auckland City Mission distribution centre at 15 Auburn Street, off Boston road in Grafton. Everyone must take ID with them.

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Salvation Army Food Parcels 

Contact the Mt Wellington Salvation Army Community Ministry 09 379 7615 – or their local Salvation Army Community Ministry (ring 0800 53 00 00 to find your local ministry).…more