14 May 2020

Latest Level 2 UpdatesThe most recent guidelines are being updated and can be found here https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-system/alert-level-2/
Funerals
Gatherings of up to 50 people (indoors or outdoors) for funerals and tangihanga are permitted while New Zealand is at Alert Level 2. This guidance applies to funerals and tangihanga irrespective of the venue. The length of indoor gatherings should be minimised – under 2 hours is recommended. If a viewing of the deceased person or tūpāpaku is being held in a private dwelling, marae, church, community hall, mosque or the like - there can be multiple viewings, however, there must not be more than 50 people at any one time.
This will help prevent the spread of It is a requirement of the Ministry of Health that prior to any service that has more than 10 people (but less than 50 as per the restrictions), the service must be registered with the Ministry of Health at funeralregistration@health.govt.nz. A registration form can be found on the Ministry website here.
Everyone should be able to keep 1 metre away from each other.
It is important to note that this limit of up to 50 people excludes workers such as kaikōrero, kaikaranga, members of the clergy and the funeral director.
Each group of up to 50 people, will be considered as ‘one cohort’ with the expectation that they will not interact with any other cohort in or around the premises/venue
Gathering at your home
You can have friends and family over to your home, but gatherings are limited to up to 10 people. This includes the people who usually live in your house. If more than 10 people normally live in your house, then no more can join.
General guidelines for Religious Gatherings
● All gatherings should be less than 2 hours.
● People who don’t know each other should keep 1 meter apart at all times including when arriving for prayer.
● All gatherings can have a maximum of 10 people, whether the gathering is indoors or outdoors. This excludes people leading or working at the gathering.
● Indoor gatherings should be seated, outdoor gatherings need assigned seating or standing areas.
● There must be space for physical distancing to happen, which may further limit numbers.
● If you think more than 10 people might want to come, make sure people know beforehand that space will be limited. Consider asking people to join from home through technology such as livestreams.
● If more than one separate area is used (for example, a building and a separate marquee), each area can have a maximum of 10 people. The people in each area cannot have contact with each other. That means each area must have its own areas for washing, entrances and exits, bathrooms, kitchens etc..
Ramadan Guidelines for Gatherings
Covid-19 is still out there so we must play it safe.
Religious buildings, including mosques, can open and people can gather for religious ceremonies, such as iftar and eid. The guidelines below should be followed to help keep communities safe.
The gathering limit is currently 10 people. The latest limit can be found at www.covid19.govt.nz
Physical distancing, timing and numbers:
● All gatherings should be less than 2 hours.
● People who don’t know each other should keep 1 meter apart at all times including when arriving at the mosque, during wudu, prayer, and iftar.
● All gatherings can have a maximum of 10 people, whether the gathering is indoors or outdoors. This excludes people leading or working at the gathering.
● Indoor gatherings should be seated, outdoor gatherings need assigned seating or standing areas.
● There must be space for physical distancing to happen, which may further limit numbers.
● If you think more than 10 people might want to come, make sure people know beforehand that space will be limited. Consider asking people to join from home through technology such as livestreams.
● If more than one separate area is used (for example, a building and a separate marquee), each area can have a maximum of 10 people. The people in each area cannot have contact with each other. That means each area must have its own areas for washing, entrances and exits, bathrooms, kitchens etc..
Hygiene and safety
● People should not attend if they are sick to keep the community safe.
● Clean all surfaces before and after the gathering with disinfectant.
● Have plenty of places for people to wash hands with soap and water.
● If food is provided, physical distancing must be maintained while eating, and people should be served individual portions (not a buffet).
● People should not share drinks, cups, plates, cutlery or other items.
● If personal protective equipment, such as masks or gloves, was not needed at the gathering before COVID-19, it isn’t needed now unless you’ve been given official health advice.
Keeping records:
● Keep a list of the contact information of everyone who attends. If possible this should include who sat (or stood) where. This is needed in case someone becomes unwell and contact tracing is required.
There is information and resources about how to do this on the COVID-19 Website.