Tēnā tātou katoa ki ngā whānau whānui o Wakatū
This week we start the long process of returning to what you’ll get used to hearing as the ‘new normal.’ The last couple of months have been disruptive but I remain proud of how we worked together to protect and support our most vulnerable and to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19 across communities in Te Tauihu and Aotearoa.
However we need to continue to stay focused – and although we will have more opportunities to reconnect with whānau and friends under Alert Level 2, we must continue to have a strong focus on hygiene, physical distancing when we are in public and with people we don’t know, and keeping track of where you have been, and who you have seen. This will be very important if we face any new instances of COVID-19 in our community.
It has been wonderful to watch the many different ways we have connected with each other, and supported each other. Many whānau have told me that they are going to keep holding regular zui to stay connected with whānau across the motu and overseas. The image below is from the Tākao whānau.
WAKATŪ HOUSE REMAINS CLOSED
While the country starts the move to Alert Level 2 from Thursday 14 May, we have made the decision to keep Wakatū House closed to external visitors for at least another two weeks while we work to ensure that we have systems in place to keep our visitors and our team safe and healthy. We will review this decision after the first two weeks at Alert Level 2 and keep you updated.
Our Owners’ Liaison team will continue to be available by phone, video chat and email - please call on 03 546 8648 or email info@wakatu.org
ALL HUI AND WĀNANGA CANCELLED UNTIL NOVEMBER 2020
Because of the ongoing uncertainty with COVID-19 we have cancelled our usual programme of wānanga and events for the rest of 2020.
We will make an announcement about arrangements for the 2020 Annual General Meeting later in the year closer to the time, once we know more about how large events will be managed. We will not run an Owners’ tour the day before the AGM in 2020.
KEEPING CONNECTED
Our Owners' Liaison and Manaaki teams are continuing their project to make contact with our Owners by phone or by email.
However they are still finding that they can’t connect with some whānau as contact details are out of date.
Please take the time to make sure we have your latest contact details including address, phone number and email. To update call 03 546 8648 or email info@wakatu.org
TE HUNGA PANUKU KAIMANAAKI
Back in early April we launched Te Hunga Panuku Kaimanaaki, an initiative to provide our kaumātua with some extra social support. We matched members of our Te Hunga Panuku, people who have participated in a Wakatū programme or received a Wakatū scholarship, with a kaumātua who was isolated during Alert Level 4.
We’ve had some lovely feedback on this initiative, including from Dale and Karen who have bonded over a shared interest and passion in Rongoā Māori. Over phone calls a couple of times a week, they have been sharing knowledge – Karen has even set homework for Dale! They are going to continue their connection, and plan to meet in person once they are able to. The photo below shows Dale in her favourite place to call Karen.
UPDATES FROM YOUR BUSINESSES
Our Kono Horticulture team have now finished harvest for this season – they harvested around 26 million pieces of fruit by hand – an impressive feat under any circumstances, and particularly impressive under the current circumstances.
The new branding for our Annies fruit snacks has been well received and we recently launched Annies in China where it is proving popular.
As part of our maintaining our status of Essential Business we have been audited by the Ministry of Primary Industries throughout Alert Levels 4 and 3 and I’m pleased to say that our seafood processing factory passed its audit with flying colours.
This is a testament to the very hard work of our Karen O'Brien, our General Manager Foods, and all our operational and support teams.
Our ability to keep operating as an essential business over the past weeks has provided a sound foundation for the coming months.
THE PATH TO RECOVERY
A move to Alert Level 2 is positive for so many – the chance to reconnect with whānau and friends, for businesses to start trading again, and for people to start returning to work.
But as a community, region, country and economy, we are far from being ‘business as usual’. The impacts of the COVID-19 response will be felt for a long time to come.
Many of our whānau are involved in areas that are particularly hard-hit, such as hospitality and tourism, and as iwi, hapū and whānau we must continue to show leadership, and provide support and encouragement to those who need it.
With record unemployment levels predicted, training and skills development are even more vital, and I encourage you to look for opportunities to study and remain open to changes in industry or sector.
As well as the change in the Alert Levels, this week saw the government announce its 2020 budget – the policy focus and decisions that the government makes regarding the economy and in particular, whānau support and investment focus, will determine the pace of recovery we make as a country.
Our team is continually monitoring, reviewing and advocating where necessary on behalf of the whānau of Wakatū.
While there are many unknowns in the coming weeks and months, we know that whānau remains at the heart of everything we do.
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi engari he toa takimano.
Paul
Paul Morgan
Chair, Wakatū board