Taranaki helpline available for those struggling in Alert Level 4
A week into Alert Level 4, Taranaki Civil Defence Emergency Management is reflecting on the amazing work people and essential services are doing to help others get through COVID-19. To support this, a new 0800 number for people needing urgent help accessing food, medication or other household goods and services has been launched.
Group controller Craig Campbell-Smart says the region’s doing a great job of wrapping its arms around those who need help and Civil Defence wants to make sure no one falls through the cracks.
“As expected, we’re seeing an increasing number of people needing support during this period and it’s great to see family members, friends and neighbours stepping up to help those close to them,” says Craig.
“Sometimes it’s not possible for that support to come from family or friends, and there are many services provided locally and nationally to help in those situations, such as healthline, lifeline, and local essential services like Meals on Wheels and Food Bank.”
“This new phone number is not a replacement for those resources but is available to ensure that no one misses out on the essentials during this period.”
When seeking support for yourself or others, Taranaki Civil Defence is asking people to follow three simple steps:
- Check if a family member or friend can support.
- If the above isn’t an option, phone the dedicated government helpline 0800 779 997 to find out what support is available from essential social services operating during Alert Level 4.
- Taranaki CDEM can assist with urgent needs that can’t be met by the above two options. Phone 0800 900 077 between 7am and 7pm daily.
Craig Campbell-Smart says, “We have seen some amazing support around the mountain in the last week, including iwi authorities looking after their Kaumātua and vulnerable whānau, community groups reaching out to their members through email and phone, and other essential services working hard remotely to support their clients.”
“We encourage everyone to continue using these networks where possible. Our 0800 number will be there as a ‘safety net’ to ensure no one is left without the necessities during this time,” says Craig.
The most up to date information on COVID-19 is on www.covid19.govt.nz.
For all Ministry of Health updates visit www.health.govt.nz/covid-19 and for Taranaki DHB updates visit www.tdhb.org.nz.
For the latest Taranaki Civil Defence Emergency Management updates, visit our website www.cdemtaranaki.govt.nz and Taranaki Civil Defence Emergency Management Facebook page
For information on the public health measures in place under Alert Level 4, visit: https://covid19.govt.nz/government-actions/covid-19-alert-level/
