Past News
Published: 29 April, 2020
Fanworm in the Top of the South
TOS Newsletter Autumn 2020 - (1.2 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF file) »
Published: 15 April, 2020
Pānui Issue 25, Paengawhāwhā (April 2020) »
(4.4 MB PDF)
What's going on around our Rohe?
Published: 13 April, 2020
Unite against COVID-19 update
Unite against COVID-19 update13 April 2020 Please see new updates in yellow. |
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What will Level 3 mean? Some general information about what Alert Level 3 will mean for individuals and businesses will be released publicly this week on the COVID-19 website. At Level 3, there will still be restrictions on workplaces, schools and gatherings to make sure New Zealand continues to win the fight against COVID-19. |
Health and wellbeing· It's important that people do not neglect potentially serious health conditions because of concerns around COVID-19. · Don’t delay seeking medical care for things other than COVID-19 symptoms. · Don’t be concerned about needing to go to a medical facility – they’ll keep you away from patients with COVID-19 symptoms. · If you have symptoms on Easter Monday, you can still get tested – phone your GP or Healthline first. Most testing stations are open today. · A new mental health campaign "Getting through together" has been launched to help Kiwis care for their mental health during the Covid-19 crisis. See more information here. |
Business· Essential businesses, and those that support them, will continue to provide the necessities of life for everyone in New Zealand. To see which services are considered essential please visit here. · Some general information about what Alert Level 3 will mean for individuals and businesses will be released publicly this week. · At Level 3, there will still be restrictions on workplaces, schools and gatherings to make sure New Zealand continues to win the fight against COVID-19. · Businesses have been asked to think about how to support contact-tracing tools or mechanisms and keep track of supply chain and customers. |
Transport and travel· While we are in Alert Level 4, some people may need to travel outside their local area to support a loved one in need. People will only get permission to travel in rare circumstances. See here for more information. · A small number of people will be eligible for exemption from managed isolation, such as unaccompanied minors, medical transfers, and those with serious medical conditions that cannot be managed in the accommodation provided. · You must apply for an exemption before booking your travel. If you do not hold an exemption before you fly, you will be placed in managed isolation. See more on the COVID19 website. · All travellers entering New Zealand from overseas from midnight 9 April 2020 are required to undergo fourteen days of isolation in managed isolation in government-provided facilities (hotel) in the city they arrive into, either Auckland or Christchurch. Visit here for more information. |
Lifelines· With bad weather forecast for central and southern New Zealand, it’s vital that you stay local and don’t do anything that may require an emergency services call out. · Emergency and infrastructure services are on standby for severe weather expected on Easter Monday and Tuesday. · Where councils have suspended recycle collections, households are being asked to hold or stockpile recycling to reduce overflow at kerbside. |
Education· The school term starts on Wednesday with on-line learning and TV education channels during school hours – available on TVNZ2+1, TVNZ on Demand, Sky Channel 502, and Maori Television in te reo. · Paper resources and devices are being sent to some homes where children can’t access a computer or the internet. · The Ministry of Education is supporting essential workers who are in need of childcare services by working with home-based providers who can offer care for children aged 0-14. · During the lockdown, school buildings and playgrounds are closed, unless the buildings have been approved for a special use by the Secretary for Education. |
Community support· The Student Volunteer Army is offering a contact-less food ordering and delivery service for over 65’s, medically vulnerable and families of healthcare workers or healthcare workers themselves, available in limited cities, but expanding each week. Details are on their website here. · A range of content for Pacific peoples is now on the COVID19 website, and includes a regular bulletin of information. · A large number of New Zealand sign language videos have been added to the COVID19 website. These will be updated as new information becomes available. · The Government has launched a WhatsApp channel for people to find information about COVID-19. See here for more information. · If you’re not sure what assistance may be available or don’t know who to contact for help, visit covid19.govt.nz or call the free government helpline on 0800 779 997 |
Law and order· Concerned members of the public can now report COVID-19 Alert Level 4 restriction breaches to Police by completing an online form. The online form can be found at https://www.police.govt.nz/105support · Police continue to take the approach of educating and informing people of their responsibilities in the first instance, but will not hesitate to take enforcement action if people continue to ignore the restrictions. |
Key contacts and sources of information· Healthline 0800 358 5453 · Government helpline 0800 779 997 · Need to talk? Call or text 1737 or visit www.allright.org.nz/campaigns/getting-through-together · Essential business enquiries essential@mbie.govt.nz or 0800 22 66 57 · Reporting breaches of self-isolation NHCCselfisolation@health.govt.nz · Reporting breaches of any Level 4 Alert restrictions 105.police.govt.nz · #Manaaki20.org; 0508-4-Manaaki |
Frequently asked QuestionsQ. Who needs to get tested for COVID-19?Under the current case definition, anyone who is unwell with an acute respiratory infection (such as a dry cough) and at least one of a cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, head cold, loss of sense of smell fits the definition of a suspect case and would ideally be tested to confirm or exclude a diagnosis of COVID-19. The person does not need to have a fever to meet the definition. Health professionals are the best people to decide when testing is needed. Q. How does testing work? There is more than one way to test for COVID-19 (for example a nose swab or a sputum test). Whatever form a test takes, it involves collecting a sample that is then sent to a lab to be analysed. Q. I’m a single parent. Can I take my young children to do the groceries? A. If at all possible only send one person from your household to do the whole shop. You may need to take young children with you if there is no carer available. Find more advice for shopping safely on the COVID19 website. |
Published: 13 April, 2020
8 tips for heating your home efficiently
8 tips for heating your home efficiently
It’s important to keep our homes warm so we can stay healthy—but many Kiwi homes can be hard to heat due to their low-quality construction and lack of insulation.
Here are some tips on how to make savings while keeping warm and being efficient with your budget.
1. Set your heaters to a minimum of 18°C.
18°C is the minimum temperature to set your heater to for warmth and energy efficiency, the lowest temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation to keep warm and healthy. If you’re living with young children or seniors you might like to set your heater up to 21°C, but setting it higher wastes power.
2. Only heat spaces you’re using.
If you’re not using a room regularly throughout the day don’t waste electricity heating it. If you leave a room or your house to go for a walk, it is cheaper to turn off your heater while you’re out and then turn them on when you get back. Only heat rooms and areas of your home you’ll be spending a lot of time in. Shut doors between rooms and corridors to keep heat trapped in the rooms you’re using.
3. Block draughts to keep the heat in.
Heat can leave room through gaps in doors and around windows. Make a DIY draught stopper by stuffing a rugby sock with newspaper, or rolling up a towel. Set it snugly against gaps at the bottom of doors and windows to prevent heat from escaping.
Shut your curtains just before the sun sets—but keep them open during the day to let heat from the sun in.
4. Heat pumps are the most efficient type of heater.
Heat pumps are three times more efficient than plug-in electric heaters. Unlike plug-in electric heaters, heat pumps produce more energy than they use, which means you’re getting more heat for your electricity than with any other kind of heater.
Set your heat pump between 18-21°C. Use the “Heat” mode rather than the “Auto” mode. Set the fan to “Auto”.
Make sure to clean your heat pump filters regularly—at least once every three months. Check the heat pump’s instruction manual for directions on cleaning the filters, or check for instructions online, like on EECA’s Energywise. Keep the heat pump’s external unit clear from plants, debris, and other obstructions to help it run more efficiently.
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Under COVID-19 Alert Level 4, you won’t be able to have a heat pump installed—but if you’ve already got one, it’ll provide you with the cheapest possible heating. |
Wood burners are more efficient than plug-in electric heaters, so are a great option too—especially if you’ve got access to free or cheap, dry firewood. Under COVID-19 Alert Level 4, firewood is an essential service, so you can order firewood—but you won’t be able to have a wood burner installed if you don’t already have one.
5. Choose a plug-in electric heater that’s right for your needs.
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Under COVID-19 Alert Level 4, heaters are essential items and can be purchased from online retailers. |
Plug-in electric heaters can useful in smaller spaces like bedrooms, but they aren’t as effective at warming large rooms as a heat pump or a wood burner.
All plug-in heaters are equally efficient, so no one type produces more heat than any other—but some types, like heaters with a fan, may be better at circulating heat around the room.
Each plug-in electric heater has a wattage that can help you choose what size heater is right for the room you want to heat. For a bedroom, generally a heater between 1000-1500 W is suitable. For a medium-sized living space, the maximum wattage available, 2400 W, is suitable. Tenancy.govt.nz’s Heating Assessment Tool can give you an accurate understanding of your heating needs.
If you’re purchasing a new heater look for a model that has a thermostat—it’ll turn off automatically when your space reaches the set temperature, meaning you’re not using more power than needed.
You can find out more about different types of heaters at EECA’s Energywise.
6. Figure out how much your plug-in electric heater costs to run.
You can use your plug-in electric heater’s wattage to calculate how much the heater will cost to run. The wattage can be found on the heater’s packaging or on the heater itself, usually on a label near the heater’s power cable.
- 250 W = 7 cents an hour
- 500 W = 14 cents an hour
- 1000 W = 29 cents an hour
- 1500 W = 43 cents an hour
- 2000 W = 58 cents an hour
- 2400 W = 69 cents an hour
These costings assume a cost of $0.29 per unit of electricity, the average across New Zealand, and that the heater is running continuously for an hour—if your heater has a thermostat, it’ll turn off from time to time when your space reaches the set temperature, so it may not cost as much.
7. Don't use an unflued gas heater.
Unflued gas heaters are gas heaters that aren’t connected to a pipe or chimney which takes exhaust gases outside your home. They produce dangerous pollutants that can harm your health, and water vapour that can make your home damp. Read more about the risks with unflued gas heaters at the Ministry of Health’s website.
8. Call your power company if you’re worried about your bill.
Keeping warm is vital to health, especially in winter. Talk to your power company if you’re having trouble paying your bill—they’re here to help, especially in tough times, and can connect you with assistance from the government and community services if you need it.
Changing your payment schedule or power plan to one better suited to your circumstances can make a big difference, and your power company will be able to talk you through the best plan to support your needs.