AS a naturalised immigrant to this country, I am proud of the decisiveness the New Zealand government has shown during the Covid-19 crisis, as well as how the lock-down is respected in the Eastern Bay.
As of this afternoon, New Zealand has 708 confirmed cases and one reported death – in stark contrast to my native Sweden, which has 4334 confirmed cases and 146 deaths.
Despite this, all Sweden has done is prohibiting gatherings of more than 500 people and telling people to be “responsible” and recommending “social distancing” for those over 70.
There are no quarantines, borders are only partially closed and primary schools are open.
The Swedish approach has been criticised as a dangerous experiment with 10 million people. Bars, restaurants and stores are open.
Meanwhile, driving from Ohope to Opotiki just before 11am last Thursday — the first official day of the lockdown — I am struck by the peaceful feeling outside.
It’s as if the calm of those few hours of Christmas Day when everybody sits inside eating dinner together has landed permanently in our midst.
On the trip to Opotiki I spot: one police car, three pedestrians, three cyclists, nine cars, one courier van and one black van, five trucks and five utes.
Added to this are two white and covered utes each towing a largish flatbed trailer – they had stopped next to one another at the intersection of SH2 and Wainui Road, the drivers having a chat to one another while smiling incredulously.
Because it is like that, incredible.
Seagulls and other birds have taken control of the roads and it wouldn’t surprise me if they refuse to get out of the way soon – as an inter-species, political statement.
Coming out onto that huge, sweeping bend at Waiotahe, I think most motorists automatically scan the kilometres ahead to see if they can spot any vehicles.
Not one. Not a single car, truck or motorcycle. Not one.
By the way, the vehicles and people counted on my trip included traffic going both ways.
Calm reigned in Opotiki.
There was no aggro, hollering or discontent to be spotted anywhere – just a lot of closed shops, open spaces and a few people going about their business.
The few cars that were about were driving considerately, perhaps leisurely. There were a few massive tractors, a smattering of utes, some cars and another courier van.
“It’s as if I have been transported back to the 1960s,” I thought.
Adamant to observe extensive social distancing myself, I was pleased to spot police officers William Searle and Mark Simonsen coming out of the Opotiki New World just as I turned up.
I had been tasked with finding out if the supermarket had those protective plastic screens in front of the tellers – but now I didn’t have to go inside, I could just ask the cops.
“Yes, they have them – and they are enforcing the stipulated distances,” Mr Searle said.
People were generally following the rules and respecting the distances, even if there were some people that needed to adjust.
“You don’t go out just for a packet of chips,” Mr Searle said.
“Going shopping once a week would be good.”
Full marks to New Zealand and Opotiki for getting it right – from a grateful pakeha working on becoming whanau.

1 of 8

The Eastern Bay has its first case of Covid-19, but details of the patient are not being revealed for reasons of privacy.

Two cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in the Bay of Plenty on Tuesday, including a male aged in his 70s who arrived in the Bay from the United States on March 24, as well as a woman aged in her 50s who arrived in the region from the United Kingdom on the same day.

On Monday, four cases were confirmed for the Bay of Plenty, including three international travellers coming from the US, the UK and Indonesia.

Most of the cases prior to that have also included people travelling from overseas.

However, health authorities are not confirming that any of these cases are the Eastern Bay case.

The number of Covid-19 cases in the Bay of Plenty has risen to 18, including the case in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, Toi Te Ora Public Health has said.

Medical Officer of Health Dr Phil Shoemack said yesterday that he did not know which part of the Eastern Bay the Covid-19 case was from and even if he did it would not be prudent to divulge details as with small towns such as Opotiki and Kawerau, or even Ohope, it would be easy to identify the person.

“At this stage we don’t have that many cases and in weeks to come the numbers will only go up.”

He said it was not only to protect the confidentiality and privacy of individuals that it was important not to reveal these details.

“The other reason for not giving too many numbers is the real risk that people will over interpret and think we have had only one case in the Eastern Bay, we don’t need to worry.

“Well, this is a pandemic, it is an infectious disease, and every part of the country is at significant risk and therefore every neighbourhood, every street every household needs to take the same precautions,” he said.

Number of confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in:

New Zealand: 708

Bay of Plenty: 18

Lakes: 11

Number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in:

Western Bay of Plenty: 15

Eastern Bay of Plenty: 1

Rotorua: 7

Taupō: 4

OPOTIKI holiday parks are taking the Covid-19 lockdown seriously, setting up special systems to reduce the risks.

With a large number of Recognised Seasonal Employer workers staying at the Island View Holiday park, co-owner Lorne Simmons said “that in order to reduce the amount of close contact RSEs have with others, we will try to wrap up each team in its own bubble as much as possible”.

“We treat teams where possible as ‘households’ sharing camp space and using shared facilities as little as possible,” he said.

Mr Simmons said there were more than 200 people, closer to 300 staying at the camp.

“It’s been busy,” he said.

“We’ve been setting up bubbles in the camp.”

Camp owners and their staff have set up two bubbles for Tongan women and two for Tongan men.

“We then have one bubble for Malaysians and one for Niueans,” Mr Simmons said.

“We have one bubble for Fijians and Tahitians combined – and two bubbles for Samoan men.”

The bubbles were then assigned to various toilets and showers in their groups, he said.

“We have minimised the use of common areas and the workers will have their own toilets, showers and kitchen areas.”

Other levels of separation have also been introduced.

“The day shift is separate from the night shift,” Mr Simmons said.

One of the first steps in creating the bubble world at the camp was to create good signage and put it up so that all RSEs could see and understand it.

“This was actually harder than it sounds,” Mr Simmons said.

“We then communicated with all teams via team meetings, Facebook group messages, and verbally with the team leaders.”

Eastpack and OPAC pastoral carers were involved to assist with a consistent approach.

“This is taking a co-ordinated effort from everyone,” Mr Simmons said.

Mr Simmons said the Island View Holiday Park was closed to all visitors.

Opotiki Holiday Park owner Raje Sharma said the campground’s shared facilities were closed and they had 33 people staying there, including her family of six.

“We are keeping people in isolated groups,” she said.

Mrs Sharma said one Opotiki family had come home from Australia, arriving on the night of the lockdown, and they were now isolated in one of the units.

“Their family is coming in with supplies and washing for them,” Mrs Sharma said.

“I don’t do anything for them, but I am protecting my family.”

The family had tested negative in Australia before departing for New Zealand, but as there was a risk they might have caught the virus while in transit, the family was isolated.

Mrs Sharma said she has produced folders with rules that her guests had to follow.

“We’re waiting 72 hours before washing their laundry and we have rules for making dinner, disinfecting and washing with soap and hot water,” she said

“The more we practise it, it becomes a habit.”

Mrs Sharma said everybody was taking the lockdown seriously.

The Ohiwa Holiday Park is effectively closed. Owner Nola Morgan said the only people at the camp were themselves, staff, one many who was a regular guest in a self-contained unit and a German family who had been in the country since February and were now stuck in New Zealand in their fully self-contained motorhome.

OPOTIKI mayor Lyn Riesterer reports that the town’s civil defence emergency operating centre is up and running.

“Everybody is working from home, but it seems to be operating well,” she said.

Ms Riesterer said an Opotiki-based helpline had been set up for anybody needing help, and that the number to call was 0800 884 222.

“Our civil defence team is now operating local helplines to help people access essentials such as food and medication,” Ms Riesterer said.

“This service is available to assist people in hardship and is offered in addition to a range of other support offered by other agencies such as the Ministry of Social Development. ”

The Opotiki District Council could still be contacted on telephone 315 3030.

“The council is open, even though people were operating remotely,” Ms Riesterer said.

“If you’re in need of of goods or services, you can select civil defence as one of your options of choice.”

Ms Riesterer said the toilets at the back of the i-SITE had been opened exclusively for the use of truckies and others who brought essential goods to the town.

Anybody wanting to report breaches of the Covid-19 lockdown should us the https://www.police.govt.nz/105support website.

sven.carlsson@thebeacon.co.nz

AFTER a few days of confusion, Te Kaha residents are getting the hang of using the services on their newly-installed mobile tower site.

Installed at the Horizon Energy site along Copenhagen Road in Te Kaha, the new tower has been built by the Rural Connectivity Group and offers services provided by Spark, Vodafone and 2degrees.

However, there’s one problem and one trick that needs to be understood by residents to make full use of the tower.

“Old-school” mobile phone-calling technology is not enabled on this tower and residents must have a  “non-dinosaur” mobile phone.

Or, as Opotiki District Council’s Coast Community Board member Gail Keepa explains, “you have to turn on a setting, whanau”.

“My phone is an iPhone, go to settings- mobile data options-turn on 4GVoLTE,” she said.

“Power phone down for 15 minutes turn back on.”

After doing this, Ms Keepa said she was able to ring Christchurch and “talk to my baby clear as day”.

“If your phone isn’t a dinosaur it should have 4G VoLTE in your mobile settings somewhere or if it’s really flash it might even display it at the top of your screen,” she said.

Rural Connectivity Group engagement manager Caitlin Metz said the tower, which had been operational since 7pm on Friday, was originally designed to cater for older mobile phones as well.

“The site was designed to be 3G and 4G capable, but due to our desire to start it before the lockdown, it was not possible to equip the facility with 3G services,” she said.

In this case, 3G stands for “third generation” and 4G stands for “fourth generation”.

As mobile phone services have evolved over the years, the new 4G way of handling telephone calls differs significantly from the older methods.

This means that older phones, equipped with only 2G or 3G technology, cannot do phone calls via the Te Kaha tower – but they can still perform data-based calls in apps such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

To use your mobile for voice calls via the Te Kaha tower, you must first verify that your phone is of a model that can do 4G voice calling – and then you must enable that option.

For instance, on a Samsung Galaxy J5 Pro this is done by going into Settings, selecting Connections, selecting Mobile networks and then Network mode.

The option you want is called “LTE/3G/2G (auto connect)” – this means the phone will be able to use LTE, which the 4G wireless broadband technology standard used at the Te Kaha tower, as well as any lesser standards if they are present.

If you’re uncertain if your phone can use the new VoLTE standard, you may need to visit your service provider website.

For Spark, go to https://www.spark.co.nz/help/mobile/understand/volte/

For Vodafone, to to https://www.vodafone.co.nz/our-networks/volte/

sven.carlsson@thebeacon.co.nz

Despite being in lockdown in her home, Whakatane Mayor Judy Turner is keeping her finger on the pulse of her district.

Ms Turner said she had been keeping in daily contact with her councillors, council staff and the council’s communications team to ensure she was up to date with all council business.

“It will be frustrating, because we will be behind on certain deadlines when we come out of this, but all councils will be in the same position,” she said.

“We (councillors) have been having Zoom meetings twice a week and while we can’t make any decisions on anything ideas have been flying, it’s just about staying in communication with each other.

“We’ve been bouncing ideas off each other, sending emails back and forth, but it is still early discussions.”

She said the most important thing was to ensure the community was kept up to date with the latest news during the four-week lockdown period.

“If there is something that needs to get out there, I’ll go on Facebook, I’ll call Radio 1XX, I’ll ring whoever can help me get that message out,” Ms Turner said.

“If there’s anything I can help with, such as keeping people up to date I will.”

Ms Turner said she was particularly concerned for when the novelty factor of the lockdown wore thin and people started going a little “stir crazy”.

She said people should refrain from surfing, swimming or anything else that might require people to help them if they got into trouble.

“If it’s anything that carries some degree of risk and you would expect people to come help you, don’t do it,” she said.

“We need to be a bit more thoughtful and think of the worst-case scenario. Do people know you’re out there? Because it may be that there won’t be someone to help you.”

Ms Turner said it would be easier for everyone to make it through this unprecedented time if they came together.

This includes ringing parents with encouraging words, ringing the elderly and checking in on friends and family daily.

LEARNING and teaching are continuing as usual, albeit online, at Edgecumbe College while other schools around the Eastern Bay take a two-week holiday.

The Easter school holidays were supposed to run from April 10-28, but the Government changed the dates so the holidays instead began on Monday this week.

Deputy principal Rene Otto said the whole school had been practising Google Classroom and then the Government unexpectedly announced holidays were to start early.

“I know that they said it is supposed to be school holidays, but we had everything all sorted and ready to go with our Google classroom and learning,” Mr Otto said.

“We had the kids all keen and we had a few practices and then they said that we need to go on holiday. So we got the okay from the Ministry [of Education] though out acting principal that we can carry on teaching until next week Thursday and then we will have the two weeks holiday at the start of Easter.”

Humour is also helping to keep the students motivated, with Facebook posts telling students: “Less than 30 minutes to showtime! You gonna finish that toast?” and “Online option classes begin in 40 minutes. . .finish your milo!!” and “You’ve got half an hour. Eat some fruit!!”.

Mr Otto said the online learning was going well, and teachers had also been holding meetings via Google classroom. Student attendance is also being monitored and pastoral support for students through the guidance counsellor is also continuing.

“We have got a special timetable [for subjects] set out and we have got the seniors, Years, 11, 12 and 13, timetabled in on a Monday and a Wednesday, and the juniors on a Tuesday and a Thursday.

“Our class starts at 9am in the morning and we have bracketed some subjects into timeslots and then we do it all in Google classrooms.”

Mr Otto said they were covering all the main subjects, such as science, English, social studies, maths and more. In addition to the hour-long block of learning for each subject, there was an additional half hour for questions and feedback with the subject teacher.

Learning was also continuing in practical subjects, such as woodwork and metalwork.

“My son is in that category, where they brought booklets home on the last day and they have been working on these and then just send it in through Google classroom.

Mr Otto said although his son could not do practical work, he was working on measurements, design and planning for his projects.

“So, for our staff it is business as usual, just that they are at home, and working in their pyjamas.”

kathy.forsyth@thebeacon.co.nz

COMPLEX repairs to a stretch of road in the Waioeka Gorge begin on Monday and are expected to be ongoing to the end of May.

NZ Transport Agency Bay of Plenty systems manager Rob Campbell said the work was to repair an unstable section of embankment at Oponae, three kilometres east of Wairata Road.

“The embankment was damaged during heavy rain and has since been reduced to one lane under priority give way,” he said.

“On completion of the work, the road will be re-opened to two lanes.”

Due to the complex nature of the repair and the confined working area, the westbound lane would need to be closed to keep construction staff and road users safe, he said.

Temporary traffic management would be in place for the duration of the work, including a 30kmh speed limit.

Stop-go traffic management would be in place from 6am to 5pm and traffic lights would operate overnight from 5pm to 6am, Monday to Friday. Some weekend work might be required.

Over-sized vehicles are able to pass through the worksite but haulage companies with any significant loads need to liaise with the NZTA.

sven.carlsson@thebeacon.co.nz

A MAN suffered minor injuries after his car rolled on the Matata Straights near Herepuru Road on Thursday morning.

Police were alerted to the crash on State Highway 2 at approximately 8am.

The driver and sole occupant had gone off the side of the road and into a ditch, with the car coming to rest upside down.

Matata Volunteer Fire Brigade dispatched two appliances to the scene, with fire and emergency medics assisting the man who appeared to have suffered a gash to his forehead.

The man was taken by ambulance to Whakatane Hospital with minor injuries where he was treated and discharged.

The road was closed to traffic while the scene was cleared.

hazel.osborne@thebeacon.co.nz

WHAKATANE Hospital is triaging patients at the front entrance as part of its preparedness to protect patients, staff and the wider community from Covid-19.

“People will notice a portacom is now set up at the front entrance. Rather than coming into the emergency department waiting room to be triaged by a nurse, that’s happening from the portacom,” said Bay of Plenty District Health Board interim chief executive Simon Everitt.

Two nurses are based in portacom 24/7. One is triaging people seeking healthcare from ED the other is screening the limited number of people coming into the hospital.

“These precautionary measures are about protecting our staff and vulnerable patients from the potential of being exposed to COVID-19,” he said.

The nurses are asking those presenting at the portacom a series of questions related to Covid-19 symptoms and those who are identified as having Covid-19 symptoms are being referred to the Community Based Assessment Centre at the Whakatane War Memorial Hall.

If they do still need to be seen in ED, then appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) procedures are being followed. If they have no Covid-19 symptom and need to be treated in ED they will be seen as usual.

The hospital has also divided its wards into red and green zones. Any patients who have suspected Covid-19 are treated in red areas and staff working there are following strict PPE guidelines.

Other measures to protect patients and our community from Covid-19 include:

• Reduced all non-essential electives (surgeries) and outpatient appointments to create capacity within our hospitals.
• Phone and video consults with patients where appropriate.
• No visitor policy with few exceptions (nominated person who is supporting a terminal patient through end-of-life-care, and a parent/guardian who is supporting a child. For maternity, one support person/birthing partner.)
• Established Community Based Assessment Centres, allowing people to be assessed for potential Covid-19 symptoms.
• Significant preparation (with planning covering workforce, equipment and training) across hospital’s Emergency Departments, inpatient wards and critical care units
• Working with our 18 Iwi in the Bay, and Maori in general, to ensure good access to healthcare services, including exploring different ways for services to be provided to rural and remote communities
• Supporting primary and community providers, establishing what supports are needed and working with them on this.

“We would remind people to wash their hands often, with soap, for 20 seconds, and dry thoroughly. Cough or sneeze into your elbow. And most importantly, stay home if you are sick and phone Healthline 0800 358 5453 or your GP if you have any concerns.”

OPOTIKI Mayor Lyn Riesterer has confirmed the Eastern Bay’s first case of Covid-19 is within her town.

As of Thursday afternoon, there are 797 confirmed and probable cases of the virus in New Zealand including 32 in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes Disrict. Of these, 20 are in the Western Bay, seven in Rotorua, four in Taupo and one in the Eastern Bay.

Ms Riesterer spoke with the affected person, an Opotiki man aged in his 70s, this morning and said they were doing everything right and recovering in isolation at home.

“They have recently returned from overseas and followed all instructions and instantly put themselves under self-isolation,” she said.

“When symptoms started showing they got tested at Whakatane and while they tested positive their partner did not.

“They are doing everything they can and are doing everything right.”

Ms Riesterer said, so far, the couple had received no backlash within the small community and in fact had received support from those who knew them and “good follow-up” from their friendship group.

“They live fairly isolated anyway, but are following all the government guidelines while recovering,” she said.

Ms Riesterer said overall her community had handled the lockdown well and there seemed to be good compliance with government directives.

“You have to give credit to the community,” she said.

“They are a caring, staunch lot and that in itself is helping us all through. People are being very respectful.”

“Overall, I think everyone in the Eastern Bay is pulling together and everyone is handling it all very well.”

The man is one of two cases of Covid-19 confirmed in the Bay of Plenty on Tuesday, having arrived in the country on a flight from the United States on March 24.

Earlier this week, Medical officer of Health Dr Phil Shoemack told the Beacon he did not know which part of the Bay the Covid-19 case was from and even if he did it would not be prudent to divulge details as with small towns such as Opotiki and Kawerau, or even Ohope, it would be easy to identify the person.

“At this stage we don’t have that many cases and in weeks to come the numbers will only go up.”

He said it was not only to protect the confidentiality and privacy of individuals that it was important not to reveal these details.

“The other reason for not giving too many numbers is the real risk that people will over interpret and think we have had only one case in the Eastern Bay, we don’t need to worry.

“Well, this is a pandemic, it is an infectious disease, and every part of the country is at significant risk and therefore every neighbourhood, every street every household needs to take the same precautions,” he said.

For Bonbon factory chief Stephanie Peacocke, continuing production of their highly sought-after hand sanitiser during the nationwide alert level four lockdown was a decision not made lightly.

The Whakatane-based cosmetics brand was deemed an essential service on Tuesday evening last week, the night before all non-essential businesses were told to shut up shop.

Ms Peacocke said the decision and pressure to continue production of sanitiser during the lockdown was polarised by the general need for such an essential product.

“I felt a lot of mixed feelings. On one hand, I felt proud that we were doing a good service for our community but I also felt the huge responsibility that was now on my shoulders with people depending on me to do everything right.

“I made the decision to stay operating, and to do so my personal motto for this mission has been, ‘to act ethically and with the best of intentions, to communicate clearly and openly with staff and customers so we can create as much safety as possible’.”

As the Eastern Bay is faced with its first confirmed case of Covid-19, products such as the hand and trolley sanitiser are essential more now than ever and Bonbon is selling thousands of units across the country each day.

“People can’t get hand sanitiser, and we came up with a product that not only sanitised your hands but surfaces too.

“We have so many people relying on us, that is why it feels like we are being pro-active in some way.”

Ms Peacocke said the welfare of her staff was a major factor when deciding to continue production, and fears for their safety and wellbeing took a toll.

“I was worried for my staff; I knew I was not going to be popular as the staff too, are scared of being at risk.

“So, I took it in a very heavy way to be honest and it took a lot of consideration to even put our hands up.”

The team are like family and like any close unit, their path is not always an easy one.

“The team are riding waves of ups and downs. We have been stressed and unstressed, hopeful and worried, we have needed quiet on some days and ACDC blasting on others,” she said

“I think each member has had a wee panic attack, they are away from their families and feeling the pressure from home, but emotions come up and away again.

“We are in this together and I admire the bravery I see in each of them,” Ms Peacocke said.

Keeping customers equipped with the tools to keep safe is a priority for Ms Peacocke and her team.

And for a company that strives to make people feel good, it was only natural to provide support through their products and social media as well.

“I feel that in times of stress, our human instincts kick in and for survival and you can only process so much information and you seek out feeling safe.

“We are expecting customers to be very sensitive, so we have, day and night, extra support on social media to answer questions and give information.”

The site is flooded by customers each day and numerous messages of support and gratitude.

“The feedback has been really heartwarming,” Ms Peacocke said.

“We get messages every day from people so grateful to have our product with them. People working on the front line, mums, nanas and essential workers who are using our product.”

Customers who are immunocompromised have reached out in numbers also.

“Most touching are the ones who are health-compromised, they are really scared. I had my niece call me on Wednesday in tears, she is disabled and asked me if I could send her supplies and if I could also have her child if something happened to her. That is how scared people are.”

This has taken a massive toll on Ms Peacocke’s mental health and wellbeing but again the unwavering support of her team has kept her strong.

“I can only speak for myself as CEO, I feel awful most of the time. I have been waking up with anxiety, but once I am around the team, I  know we have all got each other’s back and it feels nice. “

Sales and social media coordinator Tanya Faulkner said although times had been challenging, working as a part of the Bonbon team to help provide for the community had been amazing.

Ms Faulkner said Ms Peacock and the rest of the management team had been incredibly supportive through every up and down.

“They’ve been amazing to work for … I’m proud to say I work for Bonbon and help give security to so many people around New Zealand.”

The sanitiser rush that we saw when the product was first made available continues in waves, with over thousands of bottles shipped out to customers all over the country.

The store is closed during the alert level four lockdown, but Bonbon will continue to ship their product nationwide.

hazel.osborne@thebeacon.co.nz

Covid-19 response needs upping

I HAVE alerted our mayor and the chief executive of the Whakatane District Council to worrying shortcomings in our preparedness in facing the Covid-19 virus emergency.  We are not operating or socialising in safe mode. This virus will step in if we do not step up.

This is no time for committees and dilly-dallying.  We need a local leader focused on this threat, and nothing else. Fortunately, we have such a person right here. He is councillor Dr Victor Luca, who has been active on this emergency since day one.  He is a scientist (chemistry).  I was trained as a health scientist and did good with hepatitis B in New Zealand and elsewhere.

Dr Luca is far better than I ever was, and I want our community to appoint him to be our leader.  He would be our Director of Covid 19 response.  No need to call for applications and do interviews. We have no time for the usual processes.

Dr Luca is a local boy.  He is a top expert in dealing with dangerous materials, including nuclear waste.

He is also the sharpest person I know about virus transmission and dealing with dangerous materials and tiny particles. He recently returned to Whakatane from senior teaching positions in Australia and South America, and luckily for us, Dr Victor Luca is able to take up the leadership role today.

Our council is not able to act with the urgency needed right now, but I am.

I will underwrite the cost of a salary for Cr/Dr Luca for a few weeks or as long as it takes.  I would like local people who are far wealthier than myself to contribute too.  I have a long list of names of wealthy locals who have done well in the past and whom I call to step up ASAP.

Less wealthy individuals should also step up now.

We can discuss details later, but we must all wake up.  I know enough about the generosity of locals, that I do not need to resort to mentioning names.

Sandy Milne

Cashless society

I BELIEVE the coalition government are using the coronavirus to pressure our banks into fast-tracking the promotion of a cashless society.

As a pensioner who is paid on Tuesdays and does not use the ATM, I am forced to wait until Thursday between 10am and 2pm to access my account.

I feel that keeping the banks open is more essential than selling alcohol or beauty products. I believe the banks are controlling and illegally restricting access to one’s money.

My funds should be available to me to access whenever I chose, five days a week, not when the bank choses to allow me to access my account. An ATM allows only $2000 per day to be withdrawn, what if I wanted more. Whose money is it anyway?

Cash is still legal tender in New Zealand but the Government would prefer to have a cashless society so it can electronically gather information on us, which I believe is an invasion of one’s privacy.

Removing cash as a form of legal tender is removing a basic human right, similar to freedom of speech.

How will be cope purchasing groceries or paying bills if there was a power cut.

If I choose to go to a garage sale or swap meet, or purchase a car, it has nothing to do with either the bank of the government – period.

New Zealand is fast becoming a socialist communist country to live in. This is not hate speech, this is a fact. I was told the ANZ and ASB are only open Wednesdays 10am to 12pm and the BNZ is open Thursdays from 10am to 2pm. I believe cash will always be king.

D Dawson

Wally Sutherland, a most memorable man

AS an oral historian I have recorded hundreds of New Zealanders with interesting lives.

But the interview I did with Wally Sutherland one sunny Whakatane day in 2007 will stay with me forever. Wally was a community-minded business operator like no other. I had taken my 87-year old Dad from Tauranga along for the ride that day.

Wally wouldn’t hear of him waiting in the car and soon we were both guests in his office feasting on the sandwiches and doughnuts that he had bought in – we all chatted enjoyably about his early years and with his trademark dry humour, Wally kept referring to my father as ‘ the young Mr Webb’.

Wally Sutherland didn’t boast about any aspect of his considerable achievement. Instead, in his measured way he explained why he did things the way he did : reclaiming the land, boarding at the hotel so he could return to work after his evening meal, broadening his business base beginning a franchise from a standing start – I was transfixed by this humble man who had come so far in a tough and changeable motor trade.

He had also represented his industries at the highest level – in fact he is the only person to have been national president of both the Motor Trade Association and the Collision Repair Association, and he always remained proud of his original vocation of panel beating.

The current lockdown has robbed the Eastern Bay community to gather to properly farewell such a wonderful citizen. But doing a good deed for someone instead is a fitting tribute to remember an amazing guy whom I was privileged to meet – and I feel sure that the pragmatic and resourceful Wally Sutherland will never be forgotten in his grateful community.

Rob Webb, Newstalk ZB

Wellington 

Disappointed

I WAS disappointed when I realised that our Beacon would no longer be delivered.

While I have found Government handling of the Covid-19 crisis has generally been very good, there are a few decisions that defy logic.

Cancelling delivery of local newspapers is one.  Now I must leave my bubble and go to a dairy or supermarket to purchase a Beacon bringing me into contact with one more person.

This is repeated for all 50 (maybe it is 100) or so subscribers that each delivery person would otherwise have made a contactless delivery to.

Instead of 50 contactless deliveries we now have 50 additional face-to-face contacts involving handling of cash.  That is a significant risk increase.

L Riddick

Editor responds:

WE are similarly disappointed that urban deliveries to letterboxes are no longer possible and many of our subscribers can no longer receive the paper. But we can understand the Government’s thinking behind it and have to think about the health and safety of our deliverers.

Anyone that does not want to, or is unable to, get to a supermarket to pick up The Beacon can choose to read the digital version online at www.thebeacon.co.nz. Just click on the digital version tab. This is just like reading the paper, but on a screen.

Digital versions are being provided free on the website – so no subscription required – for the duration of the lockdown.

NETSAFE New Zealand has issued warnings around Covid-19 related scams online, encouraging people to stop and think before they give out personal details.

A common theme seen across the variety of scams is the obtaining of personal information under the guise of providing medical grade masks, as well as teas and olis that claim to be a “cure” for the virus.

These websites use similar domain names to accredited health organisations, such as the World Health Orgnisation, which Netsafe claims can act to confuse the recipients of scam emails.

“Netsafe is encouraging people to stop and think carefully before entering your details online or giving them to someone over the phone. It’s particularly important you protect information that can be used to access your accounts, build a fake online presence or impersonate you,” the website states.

Login details and passwords to any online account including banking, email, social media and trading site, bank account and credit card details, address, phone number, birthdate, personal information linked to the security questions on your online accounts, driver’s license and passport details are listed as information you should think twice about giving out online.

“An online scam is any scheme designed to trick people out of money or steal their personal information that uses, or is delivered via, digital communications,” Netsafe states.

Tell-tale signs that you may be targeted or have found yourself in a COvid-19 scam are listed on the site and are as follows:

• Being asked for passwords – legitimate organisations will never ask for the passwords to your online accounts
• Needing to verify your account or details – don’t respond or click on any links in the communication even if it looks like it’s from a real organisation
• Unusual ways to pay for something – scammers try to use payments that can’t be traced such as pre-loaded debit cards, gift cards, bitcoins, iTunes cards or money transfer systems
• Asking for remote access to your device – never do this unless you have actively sought out the service, they are providing
• Pressuring you to make a decision quickly – this could be to avoid something bad (e.g. account being closed, trouble with the IRD) or to take advantage of something good (a deal or investment)
• Contact that is out of the blue – even if the person says they’re from a legitimate organisation likeyour bank, health or internet provider

It is recommended that if you do find yourself caught up in a scam, that you stop, check more details and if they claim to be from a legitimate organisation, Netsafe suggests contacting the said company to legitimise any communication.

“Make sure that you use the phone number or email they have on their official website or in the phone book – and do not use the one given by the person or in the email they have sent you,” Netsafe states.

If you come across a Covid-19 related scam, report it to  www.netsafe.org.nz/report.

Henderson Street is a slice of the community that continues to brim with colour and creativity, even in darker times.

It’s times like these that creativity is essential and Maureen Verstegen has come up with a way the neighbours can connect creatively, from a distance.

The idea was sparked by the creativity shown on a Henderson Street Facebook page, started by Claire House at the beginning of the lockdown.

“People had been putting up ideas of what kids could do … I just thought, I’m crafting away here at home and I knew others would be too,” she said

“I was feeling a little bit weird, and with everybody staying home I thought, ‘well if I feel like this, then there will be people out there feeling the same way’.

“I don’t have a window that faces the street so I couldn’t participate in the Bear Hunt, so I thought ‘how could I make the street more cheerful and give the kids something to do?’” Ms Verstegen said.

Children and adults alike have been helping themselves to the cut-up sheets she placed at her roadside “washing line”. On the fabric they have painted bright and colourful designs, which now hang on line between the branches of the tree.

“I’ve really loved seeing the kids hanging their art up and it’s just about providing a little hope and joy … it’s nice the children have a focus and many of the paintings are quite heartfelt.”

“Every day I go out and see something new, it’s so cool.

“I think with kids they need a focus and having projects to do gives their days structure.”

Around a dozen art works have been pegged on the line with more on the way.

She said it was not just about keeping busy, but also staying connected in a time of hardship.

She feels encouraged by how supportive the residents of Henderson Street are.

“I even think we should have a neighbourhood exhibition once all of this is over.”

hazel.osborne@thebeacon.co.nz

TWO Belgian tourists are lucky enough to have been put up by friends in Whakatane after being booted off their flight home last week.

After a “wonderful” three-week holiday in New Zealand, Dirk Bosselaers and his partner, Agnes “Jes” de Wolf, describe a nightmare experience trying to get their return flights from Dunedin to Auckland and from there back to Belgium.

When they tried to check in last week for their Singapore Airlines flight in Auckland back to Singapore, from where they would have flown to Belgium, they were told only Singaporeans would be allowed to board.

Days before that, in Dunedin, they were also told at check-in their flight back to Dunedin had been cancelled and they frantically had to organise other flights to Auckland to get their connecting flight.

Whakatane woman Veerle Poels said she and her husband, Wiel Jongmans, invited the couple to stay with them after they were unable to get back home.

Ms Poels said the couple, friends they had spent time with earlier in their holiday, arrived in New Zealand on March 2, “well before the world imploded”.

“They had a fantastic time on the North Island and the South Island, and they were meant to be on the plane on the 25th of March.”

“When they arrived at airport in Dunedin, they said ‘you are not on the flight’, and by then the flight was already full with people trying to get to Auckland.”

“It was terrible,” said Mr Bosselaers. “We went the day before [to Dunedin Airport]. Everything was all right, the flight was still on, but when we arrived the day after they said no, our flight was cancelled.

“I had just handed in my rental car, so we were in a small airport, no car, no food and you don’t know what is going to happen.”

When they finally managed to get on a flight to Auckland, things turned from bad to worse.

“The flight with Singapore Airlines had opened only with Singaporean people on it.”

“Everything was closed at the airport,’ said Ms Poels, “all the cafes, there was nothing there only this vending machine to get a bottle of water maybe and a muesli bar.

“It was pretty dire and of course they weren’t the only people, there were plenty of people in the same situation.”

Mr Bosselaers said they were not expecting the Belgian Government to put on any repatriation flights.

“So, we hope that Lufthansa or KLM, the Dutch airline, can do something.”

Mr Bosselaers and his partner are, however, grateful they have a place to stay with friends, unlike many other visitors.

“We said to ourselves ‘our situation is inconvenient, but we don’t have a problem; we have a warm welcome from our friends’.”

Ms Poels said there had been some communication with the Belgian Ministry of External Affairs to get Belgians out of other countries. “It is my understanding they are advised to stay put for now and see how the situation evolves,” she said.

“We have been hearing that Lufthansa and Air New Zealand are getting Germans out of New Zealand and that possibly other Europeans could be on that flight as well, but nothing concrete.”

She said they had also all been talking about whether it was in the best interest for Mr Bosselaers and Ms De Wolf to return to Europe.

“It is a double-edged sword, of course they would rather be at home, however, home might not be the best place to be in terms of the virus. If they managed to leave New Zealand and flew into Germany, then they have to be in isolation for two weeks before they can fly to Belgium and then they have to be in Belgium for two weeks isolation. So, it is a very difficult decision to make, if it comes to that.”

Ms Poels said the two couples have been able to share some laughs during this tough time.

She and Mr Bosselaers are friends from way back.

“Dirk and I were boyfriend and girlfriend a long time ago, a really long time ago, and after many years we re-established contact intermittently and then they were thinking of coming to New Zealand.

“And now we are making jokes that after all these years we are living together.”

kathy.forsyth@thebeacon.co.nz

Kahu Wana is a woman who puts her life at risk every day to assist Whakatane’s most vulnerable and the elderly.

The owner of Wana Driver spends her mornings standing in line at the region’s supermarkets waiting to get necessities and supplies for her clients who stay at home in their isolation bubble – exactly where Mrs Wana prefers them to be.

Even though the service has been deemed essential, she said, she too had to wait in line at the supermarket like everyone else.

“When I arrive at the grocery store, the lines are long, however, the public are fully masked and follow the rules, standing at least two metres apart. But we also have some people who are just shopping for a bread and a milk, which they can buy at the local dairy.

“The less bodies standing in line, the safer it is for all of us, so it pays to get a few items from the corner dairy.

“The pandemic means there’s a lot of people who can’t go to the grocery store because everyone needs to isolate. The elderly are more susceptible, so, iwi representatives and myself got together to meet this need.”

Standing in line could be scary, she said.

“There are people standing in line coughing. Yes, they’re wearing their masks, but, if you’re only getting a bread and milk, go to the [dairy instead]. It means we have to wait longer and I’m mindful of the risk of contracting the disease.”

Mrs Wana said if there was one message she wanted to share with shoppers, it was to be mindful.

“Some of my older clients aren’t familiar with internet shopping, so we do it for them,” she said.

The service caters to a range of clients including sole parents, grandparents and immune-compromised clients and helps deliver to people in rural regions including Te Teko, Kawerau, Edgecumbe and the wider region.

“The saddest thing is it makes you realise how many people out there have nobody,” Mrs Wana said. “There’s nobody to do their shopping and they’re completely alone, it’s heartbreaking.”

Wana Driver provides free delivery to people aged 65 and over, sole mothers with babies younger than one month and people with medical conditions.

“We cater to all levels of vulnerable,” Mrs Wana said. “That includes the sick, those with no support and those people who don’t want to go anywhere near the supermarket.

“People would rather stay in their bubble, and we are here to help them too. We’re all in this together.”

delilah.whaitiri@thebeacon.co.nz

TTEDDY Bear Hunt mania has taken off in Whakatane, with hardly a street in town not without teddies in windows, perched on post boxes or having a picnic on the lawn.

The Hansen family home in James Street is drawing lots of attention, and laughs. Maverick, their giant teddy, has been very busy during lockdown keeping passers-by amused.

On the first day of lockdown, Maverick was surveying the world from the deck, day two he was fishing, day three he had a picnic. He has since been up a ladder cutting a tree, barbecuing on the Webber, a drizzly bear when he had his rainy-day wet gear on, while yesterday he was kayaking.

“We started it on the first day of lockdown and we are going to continue it for the whole four weeks of lockdown of it doing something different,” said Mrs Hansen.

She said the family decided to join the teddy bear hunt when they saw it taking off on Facebook.

“Unfortunately, our bear was too big to sit in the window.”

She said all the credit had to go to her husband for the bear’s daily activities.

Mrs Hansen assures teddy bear hunt fans her husband, Lance, has plenty of ideas in store for the rest of the lockdown.

“Lots of people, the elderly walk around here and children so it is something that they can see, brighten up the day, and we have had lots of comments and you can hear them laughing.”

kathy.forsyth@thebeacon.co.nz

Youth Voice

Caitlin Berquist 

Whakatane High School 

If you had told me I was going to exist in the times of a historical disaster, a global pandemic would have been the last thing I would have expected, and I’m sure you feel the same.

For me as a teenager, the current spread of COVID-19 is having a huge impact on my life.

I am lucky, as a healthy, young teenager, there is very little chance that I will be badly affected by the virus if I were to get it, yet it is causing me so much stress, worry and exhaustion. I worry for my friends, my family and everyone in our community.

There is so much uncertainty surrounding this new, infectious disease.

In less than a week, New Zealand alone had more than a tenfold increase in the number of cases, and this was just last week!

All of our camps, trips, sports games, competitions and even practices are cancelled, or postponed until further notice, as it is considered too dangerous for us to be coming in such close contact with each other.

Schools have had to change the way they teach in order to cater to a potential online future with the inevitable school closures.

Mass gatherings of more than 100 people are prohibited, yet we were still expected to come to school, and learn and act as normal, not knowing which will be our last day of school.

I have had to say urgent goodbyes to some of my close friends who have been in NZ for a long time on an international exchange, but due to the border and airline closures, have had to go back home, with less than a few days’ notice, whilst others may be stuck here for an indefinite amount of time. Many didn’t get to finish their exchange and their lasting memories of New Zealand are now a blur.

On a personal front, our family B&B apartment is now cancelled, and consequently a source of income lost for my family – especially in times like this, when my parents are out of work.

Now we are in ‘lockdown’. A situation that, if I was told would happen a few months ago, I would never have believed.

Our future is uncertain; we don’t know for sure how long we will stay at level four, and how much better or worse the situation may get.

These are hard times for all of us, and we need to be here for one another. I urge everyone reading this to take care of their loved ones and hold them close. Check in on your family regularly and see if everyone is okay, not just physically, but mentally too. Be there if someone wants to talk, or needs a shoulder to cry on. We can’t possibly know what is coming, but we can be there for each other when it does.

THE Black Flu that claimed the lives of many Maori in the Eastern Bay, and New Zealand, serves as a fresh reminder to be prepared for a possible impending crisis.

The influenza epidemic was one of New Zealand’s worst public health disasters, closing down schools, banning gatherings, church congregations and increased measures stopping the spread of the virus, including, social distancing were implemented. Sound familiar?

Opotiki and Whakatane recorded some of the highest death rates in New Zealand and with one confirmed case of Covid-19 now in Opotiki and limited access to healthcare and hospitals, the impact could be disastrous for indigenous populations if government directives aren’t adhered too.

New Zealand historian Professor Geoffrey Rice said Maori died at 7.2 times the rate of non-Maori in the 1918 pandemic.

Influenza came in three waves. The first wave hit the country in October and many built immunity. The second wave was much more aggressive and the mortality rate in the region was very high.

“If people don’t take the rahui (lock down) seriously, the current situation and coronavirus epidemic could get a whole lot worse,” he said.

According to today’s statistics from the Ministry of Health statistics, of the 1106 confirmed and probable cases, 87 people are of Maori descent, 813 are European, an overnight increase of 67.

Number are expected to rise as more people are tested daily.

Poor nutrition, concurrent medical conditions, inadequate housing and poverty were just some of the possible causes of the virus in 1918, Mr Rice said, and although this virus and the influenza aren’t the same, they share some striking similarities.

The novel coronavirus is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways also known as the respiratory system and symptoms include a cough, a high temperature (at least 38°C), shortness of breath, a sore throat, sneezing, a runny nose and temporary loss of smell.

Symptoms of the Spanish Flu, thought to have originated from Asia, included a high fever, headaches, a dry cough, prostration and two unusual symptoms were copious nose bleeds and delirium (mental confusion).

Recent reports indicate that mental confusion is another symptom experienced by some people with Covid-19.

Mr Rice said there was abundant evidence to show that Maori were more susceptible to respiratory diseases than Pakeha.

The target group and possible carriers of both diseases share some sameness. According to the health ministry, the highest number of cases by age as of April 6 is 273 in the 20-29 year age groups and 181 cases in the 50 to 59 year age group.

However, he said the Black Flu was unusual. Influenza usually affected the very old or very young, however, the second wave adversely affected young, fit men.

“Young men and pregnant women were at greater risk of dying,” he said.

Wartime transport, the mode of transport for exporting goods and travel overseas, spread the disease rapidly across the globe, however, maritime quarantine (isolating crew) was implemented in some countries including Australia and America Samoa. In both countries, low deaths or no deaths were recorded, suggesting that self-isolation is an effective Government strategy in fighting pandemics such as the novel virus.

Research also shows a strong correlation between iwi leadership in the early nineteenth century and today.  Mr Rice said during the 1918 pandemic a few active leaders were responsible for the low mortality rate in some regions.

“There are some shining examples of Maori settlements saved from heavy flu mortality by the actions of a few active leaders who understood what needed to be done to nurse patients through pneumonia.

East Coast iwi Te Whanau a Apanui rolled out new border controls last month with the support from Opotiki Mayor Lynn Riesterer, council, police and officials in an attempt to keep the virus out of their area and many tribal areas from across region are implementing similar strategies, keeping their whakapapa safe.

Ngai Tuhoe and Ngati Awa have also taken an active role within in the rohe (area), setting up safety houses and providing hundreds of care and food packs to the vulnerable and needy in remote areas.

The Government recently unveiled a $56 million package to help Maori through the coronavirus pandemic, including a sum of $30 million for Maori health services.

Following the loss of lives in the 1918 pandemic, Mr Rice said more attention needed to be given to the possible plight of minority groups and recent migrants in a future public health emergency, especially those isolated by language, race or religion from mainstream society.

“One sobering lesson from the 1918 influenza pandemic is that it revealed some of the racism lurking just below the surface in New Zealand society at the time, with discrimination seen in separate temporary hospitals for Maori and Pakeha in some towns.