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

We're now into the 3rd 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 3rd APRIL 

NEW ZEALAND  - There have been 71 new cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand. 13 people are currently in hospital, and one is in intensive care. All are in stable condition.  This brings the total number of cases to 868. 49% of cases have a direct link to overseas travel. 3,446 tests were processed yesterday in labs around the country. 

Dr Ashley Bloomfield says there are 135 people in quarantine after arriving in the country with symptoms. Patients who are classified as 'recovered' must have passed 10 days since the onset of symptoms – and been clear from symptoms for 48 hours.…more

“Honestly I thought I was going to die ... people absolutely need to take this seriously - it’s the worst thing I've ever had” 

56 year old Samoan man Tupa'i Keneti Apa spent weeks fighting the deadly Corona virus in the first wave in Aotearoa, which he and his wife picked up while travelling back from Los Angeles. 

One of the first Pacific Islanders to be confirmed with the virus in New Zealand, he details his daily journey and what can actually happen to you if you catch the highly contagious sickness.  His wife Tessa also contracted the virus but it was a milder case than his, showing how the virus can impact differently.…more

Press release - World Bank Group 

The World Bank has delivered US$5.1 million in immediate funding to support Samoa’s response to the global COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The funds will support Samoa’s efforts to prepare and manage its response to COVID-19.

Samoa currently has no confirmed COVID-19 cases, however a State of Emergency is now in place across the country.

“Protecting Samoan people from COVID-19 is our absolute priority,” said the Hon. Sili Epa Tuioti, Samoan Minister of Finance. “While we remain fortunate that we currently have no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Samoa, it is critical that we are as prepared as possible.…more

For many of our Pasifika community, our 'family bubble' contains multiple generations - in some cases up to 4 generations living under the same roof.  Dr Siautu Alefaio, Associate Dean Pacific | College of Humanities & Social Sciences at Massey University gives us a few suggestions on staying safe AND sane during the Covid19 lock down.  

Dr Siautu Alefaio

As one who lives in a multi-generational family care household (myself, hubby, my 79 yr old father, my younger brother, his wife and four children 9, 8, 6 and 1 yrs), the bubble visual explanation caused a bit of a stir in our larger than the average kiwi-family bubble. A lot of Pacific families have multiple-bubbles under one roof, so just like our family we need to take a bit of time to think, talanoa (talk-story) and adjust some of the ways we will be living. For some families this will be even more difficult if one or more members of the family are still working as part of ‘essential services’.…more

Daniel broke down on his last breakfast show to the nation when he talked about being away as a journalist while his brother was critically ill but he is now devastated that his brother has passed and he cant travel because of Covid 19

"We are so blessed to have family, because its everything" in this interview with fellow Samoan tv presenter Pippa wetzell Daniel talks about his growing up with his grandma and his family background in NZ after coming from Samoa.

How do you live in self isolation with a big Island family?

Young Samoan, Sapati Apa shoes us how she is quarantined in a multi generational family at home.

We're now into the 2nd 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 

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FRIDAY 27th MARCH 

NEW ZEALAND - #BREAKING 85 new cases of Covid-19. 76 new confirmed, 9 probable cases. 8 are in hospital. Six stable, two less stable, one of whom is in intensive care. 37 people have recovered from Covid-19.  Dr Ashley Bloomfield says it will take at least 10 days before we will see the number of cases drop.  Those who have recovered from Covid-19 are signed off by a health official after being symptom free for a 14-day period. The increase in cases has put pressure on contact tracing.

- The ICU patient is in Nelson Hospital and has been in there for some days, but their health has deteriorated over the past 24 hours.…more