NZNO nurses, healthcare assistants and some midwives plan to strike from 9am on Wednesday 30 July to 9am on Thursday 31 July. Patient safety is our priority and our hospitals will remain open. Continue to attend all appointments unless we have contacted you directly to reschedule.
It is normal to have ups and downs or feel knocked off balance sometimes, especially after a significant event. You do not have to go it alone with free health and wellbeing support available to help you get back on track.
Anyone affected by Cyclone Gabrielle can access the following services.
Up to 7 free in-person or online counselling sessions are available. You can access the counselling by:
There can be a wait of 4 to 6 weeks for face-to-face counselling.
Traditional Māori healing is available through Māori hauora.
Practice Plus offers same day clinical consultations with a doctor or nurse. They are easy to book for people that:
Practice Plus can also issue prescriptions and make referrals as needed.
Online and over-the-phone GP appointments
The following hauora open access clinics can provide support to whānau who need support to access online counselling or Practice Plus doctor or nurse consults:
In addition, the Manu Taupua programme run by Health Hawke’s Bay is available for Māori, Pasifika and community card holders wishing to enrol in a general practice.
Your community pharmacy offers advice, treatment, and referral for minor health conditions, including treatment options and medication.
Cyclone affected people will be able to access free pharmacist consultations for the following health conditions:
Cyclone affected or displaced people resident in Wairoa get free access to:
Flood water can carry bugs that cause disease from the ground, septic tanks and sewerage systems. These bugs can make your whānau sick.
Find out how to protect yourself during a flood, and afterwards when cleaning up. There is also information on:
Some people may burn waste after an emergency. Find out how fires and smoke may affect your health.
Flooding may lead to a temporary increase in the number of pests in the region, such as mosquitoes. Residents are advised to use insect repellent to help avoid being bitten and to tip water from containers around their properties.
It is understandable to feel sad, distressed, worried, confused, anxious or angry, even if you’ve not been impacted personally by the flooding. Remember it is ok to not feel ok.
Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora is working with other agencies to assess the public health impacts of dust generated from airborne silt in Hawke's Bay and Tairawhiti.
The silt testing programme's ongoing tests show contamination of the silt by heavy metals, herbicides, and pesticides is likely to be very low.
Silt FAQs — Hawke's Bay Regional Council
However, airborne dust from any source, including dried out silt, is not healthy to breathe. The dust itself can irritate eyes and upper airways, and worsen sysmptoms for those with heart or lung conditions. This is particularly important for pēpi and tamariki, who can be more vulnerable to health impacts from air pollution.
Until more is known from air quality monitoring in affected regions, it is important to take precautions during times when dust is a significant issue.
If dust levels are high and you can see, smell or taste dust in the air, or visibility is reduced, it is a good idea to take precautions.
Make sure tamariki with respiratory or other pre-existing health conditions follow their treatment plan. Talk with your school's public health nurse if you need any support with this.
Wear a mask if dust exposure cannot be avoided. Tamariki can wear a dust mask if they are over 2 and are able to tell you if the mask is uncomfortable.
Proper face-fitting masks like P2 and N95 provide the best personal protection. However, even surgical masks will still offer some protection from dust.
Make sure masks fit correctly. The mask should fully cover the nose and mouth without gaps around the nose cheeks and chin. Straps should go above and below the ears.
Replace masks as often as suggested by the manufacturer.
If you need some assistance, reach out. Local companies specialising in dust suppression include:
Most contracting companies will also have water carts available to assist in water application across large areas while undergoing earthworks.
Working through Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Hawke's Bay Public Health can provide guidance and advice for landowners to manage silt on their property and reduce dust. Contact the council by:
