Shanti Niwas Charitable Trust lockdown response

Shanti Niwas provides culturally appropriate social support services to senior citizens of Indian and South Asian origin and has activated their COVID Lockdown response.

They will be delivering different services relevant for a lockdown situation:  

1. Kick start our Whole range of online activities including exercises, games, competitions, chat shows etc.

2. Arrange for delivery of groceries and prescription medicines.

3. Restart our “Caring Caller“ services.

4. Continue our vegetarian “Meals on wheels” service which we initiated a couple of weeks ago.

5. Continue providing DOSTI, and Elder Abuse Response Services over phone and if required on a “face to face” basis.

6. Operate our transitional/Emergency services.

7. Disseminate COVID related information received from govt agencies. 

For more information: Nilima Venkat, General  Manager, Shanti Niwas Charitable Trust Inc., Mob: 021 2028406

Translated COVID Resources

Welfare Information

• Rotuman

• Samoan

• Simplified Chinese

• Somali

• Spanish

• Tagalog

• Thai

• Tokelauan

• Tongan

• Tuvaluan

• Urdu

• Vietnamese

• Arabic

• Cook Island Maori

• English

• Farsi

• Fijian

• Hindi

• Japanese

• Kiribati

• Korean

• Maori

• Niuean

• Punjabi

Translated COVID-19 Resources for Ethnic Communities

Activities for you to do with your kids at home

School’s cancelled—what now?

Thanks to our Safari Multicultural Playgroup team we’ve put together some helpful links to keep your children learning and moving through play and active games. When schools reopen, your kids will return to classrooms with happy memories and sharp minds.

Ministry of Health Resources

Easy to read information around COVID-19:

• What is Coronavirus and COVID-19

• Alert Level 4 explained

• Looking after yourself when you are sick

• Looking after how you are feeling while staying at home

Kia ora, At this tough time, it's more important than ever for us to be kind, keep in touch and band together. Here we share some of the simple things we can do to look after ourselves and others. We all see things a little differently – but we will get through this, together.

Youthtown programmes now online and free

Youthtown Programmes for all ages 5-18 are now coming into homes for free. Youthtown Connect is being run across a number of online platforms, to encourage maximum participation. There's something new every afternoon and everyone is welcome.

• Your local Youthtown FaceBook : to suit our 5-12’s

• Your local Youthtown Instagram : to suit our 13-18’s

• YouTube : YouthtownConnect : something for everyone! 

• WeChat : a voice for our Chinese community

• Live Zoom spaces : safe, live spaces for each programme site

For more information, email: info@youthtown.org.nz

Information about RainbowYOUTH services - COVID-19 Response

For a list organisations of social services available for queer, gender-diverse & intersex young people across Aotearoa.

Youth workers are all working digitally, providing 1:1 support for young people and whanau around gender and sexuality by video call, phone or email. People can self refer via email support@ry.org.nz.

Join RainbowYOUTH’s Discord server where over 250 young people from around the country are connecting and chatting about a variety of topics ( staff moderate this). More info and guide for how to sign up in button below.

Information for young people about services that are available and key Covid-19 updates are available (updated regularly.

Family / Domestic Violence Support during lockdown

Shine Information

Specialist domestic violence service provider.

Women’s Refuge

New Zealand’s largest nation-wide organisation that supports and helps women and children experiencing family violence.

English Language Partners - COVID-19 Response

Contact ELP's Centre Managers in Auckland to find out about their online English classes for adults from migrant and refugee backgrounds. 

ELP Central and West

• E:auckland@englishlanguage.org.nz

• Ph: 09 827 7882 / 022 591 0845

• Contact: Rebecca Kimberley / Murali Kumar

ELP North Shore

• E:  northshore@englishlanguage.org.nz

• Ph: 09 489 2078

• 카카오톡 ID: ELPNorthShore 

• WeChat ID: ELPNorthShore

• Contact: Andrew Barron

ELP South Auckland

• E: aucklandsouth@englishlanguage.org.nz

• Ph: 09 278 9099

• Contact: Fiona Nicol /Julia Castles

NZ Government official Unite Against COVID-19 website

For the latest, up-to-date information on COVID-19. 

Simple tips to keep yourself safe while at the supermarket and for when you get your groceries home. Includes:

• How to prepare so you can get in and out quickly

• Tips to keep 2 metres away from other shoppers and supermarket staff

• Hygiene tips for while you shop

• What to do with your groceries when you get home.

The Government and the Police are continuing to take family violence and sexual violence very seriously. Family violence and sexual violence services are essential services and will remain available, even if services need to be delivered in different ways. This info talks about what to do if you or someone else is in danger, and the helplines that are available for those needing help.

Refugees as Survivors New Zealand (RASNZ) COVID-19 Resources

There's also a RASNZ Support and Information Line for former refugees (0800 472 769, Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm) . They have also collated reliable information and resources on COVID-19, particularly relating to mental health and wellbeing, in different languages. Resources will be updated as new information becomes available.

A RASNZ developed fact sheet with eight tips for parents, including Keep calm, Listen, Reassure, Develop a routine and Connect. RASNZ has parenting tips available in multiple languages including:

• Arabic

• Hindi

• Spanish

• Tigrinya

• Burmese

New Zealand Red Cross - COVID 19 Response

Help is available through Visitor Care Manaaki Manuhiri for people on temporary visas who are in New Zealand and experiencing serious hardship due to COVID-19.

Having been identified as an ‘essential service’, Red Cross Migration staff and volunteers are now set up at home and providing services remotely to resettled (former refugee) families and individuals in eight settlement locations across Aotearoa. This Programme Update #1 covers Red Cross current priorities, updates on key programmes (such as Pathways to Settlement, Restoring Family Links), quick links to language support and who you can contact for more updates and support at this time, plus more.

NZ Red Cross COVID-19 Information Page

• What is COVID-19? Key information about what it is, the symptoms and what to do if you think you have the symptoms.

• What you can do to slow the spread? Covers simple steps you can take to keep yourself and your loved ones safe and well. Includes links to flyers and posters with info on how to reduce the spread of the virus, as well as information on getting your household ready, such as creating or updating an emergency household plan.

• Ministry of Health Easy Read Resources - translated into 11 languages: New Zealand Red Cross staff have translated the Ministry of Health Easy Read Resources into a range of languages – Arabic, Burmese, Farsi, Kinyarwanda, Nepali, Pashto, Somali, Spanish, Tamil, Tigrinya and Urdu.

• Keep in the know and learn more: Details of reliable sources of information: NZ Government website and Ministry of Health, plus includes a link to the Red Cross First Aid app to receive up-to-date information on COVID-19, provided by the Ministry of Health, straight to your phone. 

• Take action early: What to do if you become unwell.

• Connecting with people overseas: Restoring Family Links can help people who may have lost contact with family members due to Covid-19. If you know someone who could benefit from this service, click here.

Food Banks and Parcels

For Aucklanders unable to afford groceries or in lockdown with no access to other supports, find out about the Welfare Package and Food Banks you can access.

Food Banks List

For those located in Auckland, who need to access more food during the current level three lockdown, the following food banks are providing kai:

• Nga Whare Waatea Marae, Mangere - A drive-through food bank is operating weekdays at Nga Whare Waatea Marae at 31 Calthorp Close, Mangere from 10am-2pm until further notice. Bring ID. Wait in car and our kaimahi will awhi one whānau at a time.

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

• 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). You will be given a time to collect your food parcel.

• Presbyterian Support Northern - Call 09 309 2054 to arrange a pick-up at 8 Madeira Lane, Grafton. Strictly no walk-ins and collections are strictly between 11-12am Mon-Fri.

• St Vincent De Paul, Newton branch – Call 09 815 6122 or email – Auckland@stvinnies.co.nz  and they can deliver a food parcel.

• Papakura Marae Foodbank - Open Mon-Fri 10am-2.30pm, 09 297 2036. Please phone to request a food parcel, someone will ring you back to do a phone interview, then food will be delivered. Only deliveries to Papakura and Manurewa areas currently.

• Orakei Foodbank - Call 521 5712 and leave message on voicemail with details of how many in family etc. Parcels are only delivered on Tuesdays and Fridays to Orakei, Kohimarama and Mission Bay.

• St Marks Church in Pakuranga are still open but only focusing on those in Pakuranga. You can contact them directly via their contact page on their website or emailing stmarks@xtra.co.nz.

• Hills Church on Hillsborough Road can be emailed at office@hillschurch.nz Please provide details on your needs and they will do their best to provide a food parcel. Hills Church has also offered to go shopping for those that cannot leave home due to self-isolation if needed. 

Auckland Advisory Panels Recruitment

Auckland is one of the most diverse cities in the world.

To help ensure that the council’s decisions reflect the views and needs of a wide range of communities, the council has established the following advisory panels:

•  Disability Advisory Panel

• Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel

• Pacific Peoples Advisory Panel

• Rainbow Communities Advisory Panel

• Seniors Advisory Panel

• Youth Advisory Panel.

One of the key achievements of the Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel over the last year has been the establishment of the Future of Auckland website which provides more information about the panel and a number of stories that aim to capture the hopes and dreams of Aucklanders from different backgrounds - http://ethnicpeoples.advisorypanels.nz .

 Recruitment will start shortly to re-establish the panels for the next three years. This is an exciting chance to have a say in Auckland’s future by working closely with councillors and senior council staff to build a good understanding of regional challenges and opportunities facing the council. Aucklanders of different ages, cultures and ethnicities are invited to apply.

Panel members will receive a fee or honorarium. Each panel will have between 8-12 members who provide advice to the mayor, councillors and council staff on plans, policies and strategies such as climate change and how the council can continue its work to create an inclusive and equitable Auckland.

 In addition, the advisory panels will be asked to help the council update its communication and engagement guidelines to ensure we are reaching all of Auckland’s diverse communities.

Auckland Council is looking for people who can offer the following:

•  lived experience and broad understanding of the needs and aspirations of the community (relevant to the panel you are applying to join)

• an understanding of Te Tiriti O Waitangi / Treaty of Waitangi and why this is important to local government

• ability to understand and provide feedback and advice on council strategies, policies and plans

• ability and confidence to collaborate and to contribute as part of a group

• ability to provide guidance on how the council communicates and engages with Auckland’s diverse communities

• an excellent command of written and verbal English or New Zealand sign language

• availability to attend monthly meetings (weekday daytime and/or evenings)

• commitment to a three-year term from March 2020 to September 2022.

Eligibility:

To be considered for a position on an advisory panel you must be a New Zealand citizen or a New Zealand permanent resident, reside in the Auckland region, and be over 18 years of age.

 There are two exceptions to the age limit.  These are the Youth Advisory Panel who must be between 14 and 24 years of age at the time of appointment and the Seniors Advisory Panel members who must be 65 years of age or older.

 Applications will open shortly. To find out more about the achievements of the advisory panels over the last three years, view the Our Auckland article: https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/articles/news/2019/10/advisory-panels-provide-significant-input-to-decision-making/

 To be added to our mailing list or for questions about the panels, please visit www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/advisorypanels , or email advisorypanels@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz .