63 new cases take the total to 514 including 56 people fully recovered Venkat Raman Auckland, March 29, 2020 New Zealand recorded its first death attributed Covid-19 today. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said that a woman in her 70s died this morning at Grey Base Hospital in Greymouth. A resident of West…
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Wellington, March 29, 2020 The Government’s decision to close down all community and weekly papers must be reversed. The decision that only paid daily newspapers can continue to publish during the lockdown is wrong. It means that many New Zealanders will now be without the news they have come to depend upon and now need during the lockdown. Compliance assured…
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Shirish Paranjape Christchurch, March 29, 2020 I experienced something new on Friday (March 27, 2020), thanks to Red Cross. Red Cross volunteers make sure that meals prepared by Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) reach the needy residents in the community. However, a majority of these volunteers are over 70 years of age and hence cannot perform this role while New…
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Who qualifies clarified, the distribution process to be determined Venkat Raman Auckland, March 29, 2020 The Wellington-based Indian High Commission is considering offering essential items to Indian passport holders who are stranded in the country with no relatives or friends and devoid of cash or EFTPOS facility. Hamper for essential commodities High Commissioner Muktesh Pardeshi told Indian Newslink a…
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Venkat Raman Auckland, March 29, 2020 The government has issued new directives that prohibit funeral gatherings throughout New Zealand as a part of the steps to prevent the spread of Covid-19. A notification from the Office of Ethnic Communities said that the directive applies to all deceased persons, regardless of when and where they died, or the cause of death.…
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Wellington, March 28, 2020 The government’s blanket ban on community newspapers during the lockdown is short-sighted. The Government has shut down more than 100 community newspapers, while allowing the large daily newspapers to continue publishing. There needs to be an urgent rethink in view of the vital position community newspapers play in reliable information flow. Best practice in crisis communication…
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But there are some compliance regulations Venkat Raman Auckland, March 28, 2020 Auckland Council will continue its waste collection services but will follow the guidelines prescribed by the Health Ministry as a part of the Covid-19 lockdown period. Compliance of these guidelines by all residents is also imperative and enforceable. Parul Sood, General Manager (Waste Solutions) said that Auckland’s kerbside…
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Venkat Raman Auckland, March 28, 2020 National Party Finance Spokesperson Paul Goldsmith has slammed the latest changes to the Wage Subsidy as ‘deeply unfair,’ creating ‘large windfalls to part-time workers.’ He said that the changes set an ‘odd priority’ in a time of crisis. “The new rules say that employers must pay workers the full subsidy amount even if it…
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Venkat Raman Auckland, March 28, 2020 Inland Revenue Department (IRD) of the New Zealand government has relaxed its regulations around the tax obligations of businesses and self-employed persons registered in New Zealand following the lockdown that came into effect on Thursday, March 26, 2020. Thousands of businesses – large, medium and small – that are not considered Essential Services have…
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RNZ, Wellington, March 27, 2020 There have been 85 new cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, with one person now in intensive care, the Health Ministry confirmed at 1 pm today. As the country is in its second day of the Covid-19 lockdown, government officials are providing the latest health and national response updates. Director General of Health…
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