The Department of Internal Affairs

Te Tari Taiwhenua | Department of Internal Affairs

Building a safe, prosperous and respected nation



 

Update - Thursday 13 August 2020

COVID-19 Local Government Response Unit main page

The Auckland region (Auckland Council area) remains at Alert Level 3 for 3 days until midnight on Friday 14 August and the rest of New Zealand remains at Alert Level 2.

Health Order requirements

  • All positive COVID-19 cases and their family members as appropriate, are now to be managed in quarantine facilities;
  • All businesses are required to display a QR code for the New Zealand COVID Tracer App, for all premises, including local government premises; and
  • Masks are required on flights out of Auckland.

COVID-19 Response Preparedness

Response Unit Workstreams

  • As you may recall, the Response Unit has a number of priority workstreams to canvas and work through the immediate and longer-term challenges COVID-19 poses for local government and to support you in your responses to these evolving challenges. 
  • These workstreams are back up and running to assess the current situation and beyond, should Alert Levels continue or be increased. (*A guide to the key workstreams is provided at the bottom of this email*).

Solid Waste

  • As noted yesterday, the solid waste working group has stood back up and had an initial discussion, including with the commercial operators. 
  • Drawing on the lessons of last time, the intention is that normal kerbside collections will continue for both recycling and waste throughout all alert levels.  
  • We will have more detail and will develop some communications to support as much BAU processes as possible.

Guidance on council services under COVID-19 Alert Levels

  • We will work with the All of Government COVID-19 team to assess whether our guidance needs to be updated to reflect the use of masks and will update you should this Guidance need to be updated. In the interim the COVID-19 webpage has updated guidance on masks here: https://covid19.govt.nz/health-and-wellbeing/masks/

PPE

  • Some council staff have raised an issue with accessing the centralised PPE distribution portal. The Response Unit are aware of this issue and are working on a solution that we will communicate to you promptly.
  • We also encourage those that haven’t already, to review PPE stocks, and contact their normal suppliers if needed. Manufacturing NZ lists local PPE producers here: https://www.manufacturingnz.org.nz/resources-and-tools/covid-19-ppe

Explanatory material on regional leadership groups and the role of CDEM Groups and the Group Controller

Supply chain through Auckland

  • Presently there are no restrictions on freight and all goods can move between the regions. Freight operators are permitted to move between Auckland and other regions.
  • With Auckland entering Alert Level 3, Police have established road checkpoints. There are nine checkpoints at exit points just inside the regional boundaries, largely based on the Auckland Super City boundaries.
  • We are aware of long queues at some checkpoints. We recommend that you and your operators allow extra time within your planning to avoid queues as best you can.
  • Drivers should carry a letter from their employer stating they are providing an essential business or service and that they need to travel for this. It is advisable to also carry a business card, or work ID.
  • Remember when travelling to and from regions, follow the official COVID-19 advice:
    • keep your distance from other people in public
    • wash your hands
    • sneeze and cough into your elbow
    • keep a track of where you’ve been and who you’ve seen
    • wear a face covering where social distancing is not possible
    • public facilities including restrooms can be used during these essential journeys without the need for further precautions other than the health measures mentioned above.

Other useful Resources

  • The All of Government communications team will be updating the Unite Against Covid digital channels, including boosted social media posts, Radio and TV information, and the website www.covid19.govt.nz with the following key messages for people in the area of Auckland. 
  • You may find posters to support the key messages here: https://covid19.govt.nz/updates-and-resources/posters/
  • In July the Government set out the “Stamp it Out” framework for responding to new cases of community transmission, should these arise.
  • We have re-attached a set of key messages and an A3 on strategy that you may find useful to support you in conversations with your communities.
  • Foreign nationals in need of assistance can check their eligibility and apply online at: https://www.redcross.org.nz/stories/new-zealand/visitor-care-manaaki-manuhiri/
  • Connected.govt.nz has been launched by MDS to assist workers, employers and job seekers navigate all of the available COVID recovery programmes and assistance. The website is supported by a free phone line, 0800 264 737 and MSD have 35 physical Connected locations around the country.

*The Response Unit workstreams

  • The Response Unit is working at pace on a number of priority workstreams. To give you more visibility on the core workstreams of the Response Unit, we have provided the below overview.
  • The COVID-19 Local Government Response Unit webpage can be found here: https://www.dia.govt.nz/Local-Government-COVID-19-Response

Essential Services

  • To support local government to continue to provide essential services, as appropriate, through the COVID-19 event. Within this there are five workstreams on the following critical services: drinking and waste water; solid waste; public transport; roading; and crematoriums and cemeteries.

Governance

  • To ensure local government can continue to make decisions and meet legislative requirements through the COVID-19 response and recovery. (We are also working across agencies to understand the implications of their legislation on local government, including the RMA and consenting issues.)

Finance and Recovery

  • Working across central and local government on the immediate Covid-19 effect on local government financial planning and viability; and working to ensure local government are well placed to support regional and local recovery.

Social Wellbeing

  • To effectively support local authorities as they promote the social wellbeing of their communities, and work with iwi/Māori in this space.

Project Management

  • Ensuring effective project co-ordination of the Response Unit; reporting; communications with central and local government; and co-ordination with the National Response.

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