The Department of Internal Affairs

Te Tari Taiwhenua | Department of Internal Affairs

Building a safe, prosperous and respected nation



 

Update - Friday 14 August 2020

COVID-19 Local Government Response Unit main page

The Auckland region (Auckland Council area) remains at Alert Level 3 for 12 more days and the rest of New Zealand remains at Alert Level 2.

COVID-19 Response Preparedness

Leadership in our communities

  • We are conscious this is a rapidly moving situation and many of you may start to face unique challenges for your community. Your communities will look to you for leadership in these cases.
  • We know you will take all advice or guidance from the Ministry of Health and national direction regarding the current COVID-19 Alert Levels into consideration while making your leadership decisions.
  • We trust you will treat information provided to you in your role as community leaders in confidence. The Response Unit will work to provide you with rapid guidance and key messages on issues we are facing nationally, which you can tailor to your local communities.
  • Please continue to provide calm, compassionate leadership to your communities.

Infrastructure projects under Alert Levels Three and Two

  • We are aware that councils are concerned about the potential impacts of different Alert Levels on planned ‘shovel ready’ infrastructure projects intended to stimulate the economy, as well as routine capital expenditure programmes.
  • Under Alert Levels Three and Two, local government construction projects can proceed provided that appropriate health and safety and physical distancing are measures in place.
  • Industry protocols for both Alert Levels Three and Two are available, and projects can proceed subject to compliance with those protocols. The protocols and other helpful information can be accessed via this link https://www.building.govt.nz/covid-19/health-and-safety/.  
  • We recognise the potential for extended Alert Levels and implementation of the protocols to cause delays and additional costs to projects already underway, as well as delaying planned projects. We will monitor this situation and respond to any significant issues that arise.

Financial implications reports

  • In April and May 2020, the Finance and Recovery Workstream produced two reports on possible financial Implications of COVID-19 for councils. These reports were prepared to assist with identifying key issues and areas to focus on; and help councils to craft support packages and recovery plans for themselves and their communities. They can be downloaded from https://www.dia.govt.nz/Local-Government-COVID-19-Response.
  • By the end of next week (Friday 21 August) we plan to publish a further report. This third report will examine the decisions councils made in their annual plans for the 2020/21 financial year and compare those annual plans with long-term plan projections. The aim being to provide a clear, national picture of what the assessed financial impacts on councils has been and how they have responded.
  • Decisions about the need for any further analysis and reports will be made in due course.

Essential Services sub-groups

  • Within the essential services there are five sub-groups on the following critical services: drinking and waste water; solid waste; public transport; roading; and crematoriums and cemeteries.
  • We have notified the members of these working groups that we may need to access their support and they are ready to stand up should they be needed.

Caring 4 Communities - Regional Leadership Groups and Resurgence planning

  • Yesterday we attached two documents which articulate the roles and relationships between the Regional Leadership Groups and the CDEM Group Controller, and the CDEM Group (A brief slide-pack, and a four-page PDF).
  • The Caring for Communities team also shared these with the Regional Leadership Group leads with a message about how Regional Leadership Groups (RLGs) and Resurgence planning fit together in these roles. The key messages from this communication are below for your information.
  • As with the immediate response to the first wave of COVID-19 earlier this year, local leaders will be best placed to understand the needs of the people in their communities. Your role in helping to lead our communities through this period will be vital.
  • Regional Leadership Groups (RLGs) are in different forms across the country, some have existed for some time while others stood during COVID-19 and are still consolidating. These groups play many different roles.
  • In preparation for any resurgence the role of RLGs will include convening local leaders and connecting across local government, iwi, pasifika, ethnic communities and key central government personnel as appropriate. RLGs also have an important role in distributing key messages to community networks. 
  • This would wrap around and support the implementation of a resurgence plan. As you all know, the need for every region to have a resurgence plan is now urgent.  Your RLG should look to develop a resurgence plan with the key CDEM personnel for your region and sub-regions and include in this plan, the operational response and coordination role of the CDEM Group.
  • If it hasn’t already, your RLG may wish to embed the CDEM Group Manager or Controller into it now to ensure robust planning for a potential resurgence in your area. 
  • To be clear your RLG group will not be expected to implement an emergency response – the CDEM Group Controller will lead the coordination of an operational response consistent with the regional or sub-regional resurgence plan, including operationalising responses to issues raised at the RLG.

Health Order requirements

  • All positive COVID-19 cases and their family members as appropriate, are now to be managed in quarantine facilities;
  • All businesses are required to display a QR code for the New Zealand COVID Tracer App, for all premises, including local government premises; and
  • Masks are required on flights out of Auckland.

Other useful Resources

  • The All of Government communications team will be updating the Unite Against Covid digital channels, including boosted social media posts, Radio and TV information, and the website www.covid19.govt.nz with the following key messages for people in the area of Auckland. 
  • You may find posters to support the key messages here: https://covid19.govt.nz/updates-and-resources/posters/
  • In July the Government set out the “Stamp it Out” framework for responding to new cases of community transmission, should these arise.
  • We have re-attached a set of key messages and an A3 on strategy that you may find useful to support you in conversations with your communities.
  • Foreign nationals in need of assistance can check their eligibility and apply online at: https://www.redcross.org.nz/stories/new-zealand/visitor-care-manaaki-manuhiri/
  • Connected.govt.nz has been launched by MDS to assist workers, employers and job seekers navigate all of the available COVID recovery programmes and assistance. The website is supported by a free phone line, 0800 264 737 and MSD have 35 physical Connected locations around the country.

*The Response Unit workstreams

  • The Response Unit is working at pace on a number of priority workstreams. To give you more visibility on the core workstreams of the Response Unit, we have provided the below overview.
  • The COVID-19 Local Government Response Unit webpage can be found here: https://www.dia.govt.nz/Local-Government-COVID-19-Response

Essential Services

  • To support local government to continue to provide essential services, as appropriate, through the COVID-19 event. Within this there are five workstreams on the following critical services: drinking and waste water; solid waste; public transport; roading; and crematoriums and cemeteries.

Governance

  • To ensure local government can continue to make decisions and meet legislative requirements through the COVID-19 response and recovery. (We are also working across agencies to understand the implications of their legislation on local government, including the RMA and consenting issues.)

Finance and Recovery

  • Working across central and local government on the immediate Covid-19 effect on local government financial planning and viability; and working to ensure local government are well placed to support regional and local recovery.

Social Wellbeing

  • To effectively support local authorities as they promote the social wellbeing of their communities, and work with iwi/Māori in this space.

Project Management

  • Ensuring effective project co-ordination of the Response Unit; reporting; communications with central and local government; and co-ordination with the National Response.

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