We appreciate how much you have had to respond to and adjust for in the last weeks building up to the commencement of a New Zealand-wide lockdown. There has been a lot of information to absorb and from a range of providers. Today will be bringing new challenges as teachers, parents, family and whānau adjust to supporting your child’s learning from home.

Key dates reminder

26 March Alert Level 4 commenced

28 March School holidays begin

10 – 14 April Easter including the Tuesday after Easter

15 April Term 2 begins (through distance learning)

22 April Current date for ending of lockdown period

27 April ANZAC Day observed

Key lockdown messages from the Prime Minister (Select Committee Media Briefing 25 March)

• If the virus is left unchecked it will have an unacceptable toll on New Zealanders
• Staying at home will break the chain and save lives
• Breaking the rules could risk someone close to you
• if the rules are not complied with, this could risk the lock down period being extended or could risk the virus being spread to thousands
• Success will not be instant. The benefit of actions taken today will not be felt for many days to come. People need to expect the numbers to continue rising, because they will. Modelling indicates that New Zealand could have several thousand cases before today’s measures have an impact. However, if everyone sticks to the rules there will be change over time
• Act like you have COVID-19. Every move you make could be a risk to someone else. That is how New Zealanders must collectively think now
• All New Zealanders are urged to be calm, be kind, stay at home
• if people have no explanation of why they are outside the Police will remind them of their obligations and can take enforcement actions if they feel it is necessary
• New Zealanders will want to do the right thing. The Government is being as clear as they can on the guidance and Police will be working with people to help them understand
• Government’s goal is to keep people connected to their employer through the wage subsidy, and said if that was not happening then they have the backup mechanism of the welfare system
• In regard to those overseas - even under the most difficult of circumstances - New Zealand is their home.

Update on access to school sites

As you can appreciate, given the seriousness of the state of emergency, there is a very tight central command centre that has been set up. It is managed by John Ombler, All of Government Controller, and includes the Commissioner of Police, Director-General of Health, Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management, the General Manager Science at Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment and reports directly to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. The decision not to allow access to school sites was made by this group as part of a range of decisions affecting all citizens. They are doing so based on considerable information about the nature of COVID-19 and its progress in New Zealand and they are making decisions under the pressure of time. The decision to prevent access to school sites is one they have made. Therefore no staff or students are allowed to be on-site during the lockdown and all school playgrounds are off-limits to the public.

Update on the provision of home-based supervision and care for the children (aged 0-14 years) of essential workers

The Government has agreed that three large home-based providers (Barnardos, Edubase and PORSE) will provide additional support to essential service workers, where workers are not able to make their own arrangements. These providers have national coverage.

The level of demand from essential service workers is not yet clear and we are exploring all options to make sure that essential service workers can do the important work necessary. In particular we are working with the wider network of home based providers to identify additional carers in areas of high demand.

Essential workers should still continue to contact one of the following three providers if they have been unable to make their own arrangements:

• Barnardos - covid19enquiries@barnardos.org.nz
• Edubase - Home Grown Kids & Kids at Home 0508 44 54 37 or info@hgk.co.nz
• PORSE 0800 023 456

Key COVID-19 information in multiple languages

The Office of Ethnic Communities (OEC) has put together some short videos in a number of languages (currently Arabic, Cantonese, French, Hindi, Mandarin, Persian/Farsi, Spanish and Urdu) so that those in our ethnic communities whose English isn’t strong are able to access key COVID19 information in their own language. Please forward this link to your relevant community members if you can -
https://www.ethniccommunities.govt.nz/news/covid-19-growing-in-new-zealand/

Secretary for Education new powers

The Secretary for Education has been given new powers, in response to COVID-19, to issue binding directions to all education providers, including all schools, early learning services, and tertiary institutions, whether public, private or integrated.

These powers include the ability to direct providers to open or close, vary their hours and how they operate, and how they are controlled or managed. The powers include the ability to direct education providers to provide education in specified ways, such as through distance or online learning.

The decision to give these powers to the Secretary for Education was taken after very careful consideration. It is being done to ensure a unified and coordinated educational response to the COVID-19 outbreak and to enable the Government and the Ministry to act quickly in the best interests of educators, parents and whānau when required.

Schools, kura, early learning services, kohanga, and tertiary institutions have been doing great work on behalf of their learners in response to COVID-19. These powers will only be used when absolutely necessary for the purpose of avoiding, remedying or mitigating the actual or potential effects of the outbreak, and to facilitate co-ordinated processes and planning in response to the outbreak.

The proposed new powers are contained in the COVID-19 Response (Urgent Management Measures) Legislation Bill, part of which amends the Education Act 1989 to give the Secretary these powers. More information on the Bill can be found here.

Police

Police are here to keep our communities safe and help prevent harm, they understand these will be stressful and unfamiliar times for many whānau around the country. They have released a multilingual message for our communities ahead of the country's move to Covid-19 Alert level 4 that you may want to view. Please see attached.

Ministry of Social Development support

Everyone’s family situation is different and MSD has information for people affected by COVID-19. MSD may be able to provide financial support for those struggling to meet their costs. See their information page for more information.

Removing data caps for internet

In addition to Spark, Vodafone, Vocus/Slingshot, and 2Degrees, Trustpower has now also advised they have removed their data caps and the possibility of any extra charges based on usage - Ask.Trustpower.co.nz – “we've removed data limits for all fixed-line broadband customers to make sure everyone can stay connected. You'll be able to keep in touch with family and friends, work or study from home, and receive vital updates without having to worry about exceeding your data limit”.

Subsidised broadband

Not all households have access to the internet, so you might want to share this option with those who are not connected to ensure our tamariki are able to

• Access and complete online education requirements
• Access internet based applications to help occupy their time over the next four weeks

Skinny Jump is flexible prepaid broadband: Only $5 for 30GB of data, no contracts or credit checks. https://www.skinny.co.nz/jump/home.html Skinny Jump is a not-for-profit service supporting those most at risk of digital exclusion, including families with children, job seekers, seniors, people with disabilities, refugees and migrant communities, those in social housing. If you think this sounds like a plan can support someone in your community please share with them.

Wellbeing for All

We have information focused on wellbeing and supporting a child’s learning at home for parents, caregivers and whānau. It may also be useful for teachers. This resource adds to the information we have previously provided supporting conversations with children about COVID-19 - http://education.govt.nz/school/health-safety-and-wellbeing/pastoral-care-and-wellbeing/talking-to-children-about-covid-19-coronavirus/.

Further information to support wellbeing

The Ministry of Health’s website includes Top ways to look after your mental wellbeing during the Covid-19 lockdown.
https://www.iamhope.org.nz/ - I AM HOPE is the youth and community focused support group run by The Key to Life Charitable Trust, started by Mike King.
https://www.facebook.com/nathanwallisxfactoreducation/ - Nathan Wallis has some helpful videos on his Facebook page for parents and whānau
https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/get-help/covid-19/ - tips on looking after mental health and wellbeing during COVID-19 from the Mental Health foundation
https://depression.org.nz/covid-19/ - a website by the Health Promotion Agency to help New Zealanders recognise and understand depression and anxiety. `
25 Mental Health Wellness Tips during Quarantine from Eileen M Feliciano, Psy.D. – although overseas-based this is a good list and highlights some things particularly important for children. Remember the rules of New Zealand’s level 4 lockdown still apply.

Remember, be kind to yourself and others.

Keeping yourself updated

- The Ministry of Education website will continue to be updated with education related information.

- The Ministry of Health website will be regularly updated with health and status information.

- The All of Government website will also have the latest updates.