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Help and support

Last updated: Thursday 2 December, 1.20pm

In alignment with the COVID-19 Protection Framework, at each traffic light setting there will be different restrictions on where we can go. But there are also everyday things that everyone can do. You can meet friends and whānau inside and outside, go shopping, access healthcare, attend school and travel.

Being vaccinated will give you greater protection.

For more information about the traffic light system, visit the Government's Covid-19 website.

What's on this page

If you're feeling unwell | Food | Accommodation | Financial support | Social support | Looking after your friends and family | Self-isolating at home | Support for Kāpiti businesses

If you're feeling unwell

COVID-19 symptoms

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, please call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 or call your local GP for advice. You can find information on symptoms on covid19.govt.nz/covid-19-symptoms.

Health emergencies

If you need to visit the Emergency Department, please don’t hesitate. There are processes in place to protect against the spread of COVID-19 through healthcare facilities, and you don't need to worry that there isn’t capacity. Your health remains important and it’s vital you seek care when you need it, just as you usually would.

Other health issues

If you need to visit your local doctor for another health reason, please contact your local GP for advice.

Food

If you need help getting food for you and your whānau, there are support services in Kapiti ready to help, whatever your situation.

Please call the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) on 0800 559 009 to see if you're eligible for an additional food benefit from MSD Grant Funding.

If you’re struggling to afford food, get in touch with one of these organisations to arrange food support:

  • Kapiti Foodbank – 10am–12 noon, Monday to Friday, pickups only, 04 298 1907 
  • Ōtaki Foodbank – 9am–12 noon, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 06 364 0051 
  • Salvation Army – open for social service and basic food needs, 04 297 1436 
  • Age Concern New Zealand – 0800 652 105. 

Kāpiti Youth Support (KYS) is available for rangatahi with health or wellbeing concerns. They're also delivering food packages twice a week in partnership with Kaibosh, for rangatahi and whānau in need of food across the district. KYS is also running vaccination clinics for rangatahi over 12 years of age on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 4–6pm. KYS can be contacted by phone on 0800 333 879 or text 027 248 2744. 

Accommodation

Emergency accommodation

If you need emergency accommodation, call the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) on 0800 559 009. Please have your MSD number ready if you have one.

Financial support

If you’re struggling to afford food, pay rent or other bills because your income has been affected by COVID-19, or you've been asked to self-isolate and can't work from home, you may be eligible for financial support.

Use the COVID-19 financial support tool to find out what financial support you could access. If you need business advice, please contact the COVID Business Helpline on 0800 500 362.

Social support

It’s normal to feel stressed or lonely during this time. If you, your whānau, or friends need to talk to someone, there's support available:

  • 1737 helpline: free call or text 1737 to talk to a trained counsellor for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week
  • Kidsline: free call 0800 54 37 54 for people up to 18 years old
  • Youthline: free call 0800 376 633, free text 234, email [email protected], or find online chat and other support options on Youthline website
  • Piki: support for rangatahi aged 18–25 – visit Piki website
  • Women’s Refuge: free call 0800 733 843 24/7 (women only)
  • Shine's domestic violence helpline: free call 0508 744 633 between 9am and 11pm (for men and women)
  • Skylight: visit the Skylight website for a free support information ePack and free counselling.

The Mental Health Foundation has a full list of services available.

Visit Helplines at mentalhealth.org.nz

Services for over 65s

Age Concern Kāpiti provides help and support to people aged 65 and over and has police-vetted volunteers throughout the Greater Wellington region. Visit their website or phone them on 04 298 8879 or freephone 0800 65 2 105 to find out more about how you can:

Translated information and resources

Accessible information for disabled people

Information is available in a number of accessible formats:

Information for the deaf community can be found at Deaf Aotearoa’s website.

Current exemptions for face coverings remain in place. If you are under the age of 12, have a physical or mental illness or disability, you do not need to wear a mask. For more information about exemptions and how to get an exemption card, visit covid19.govt.nz.

Looking after yourself, your whānau and your neighbours

Sign up for your vaccination

If you're aged 12 or over, you can book your free COVID-19 vaccination now. It does not matter what your visa or citizenship status is.

You can book on behalf of someone else — or help them with their booking — if you have their permission.

Find more information on the COVID-19 website.

Sign up for your COVID Vaccine Pass

COVID Vaccine Pass is an official record of your COVID-19 vaccination status for use in Aotearoa New Zealand. From Friday 3 December you may need to use your COVID Vaccine Pass to enter events and venues as required by the traffic light system.

Find out more information on how to get a vaccine certificate on the COVID-19 website.

If you need support to sign up for your COVID Vaccine Pass, you can visit any pharmacy with your NHI number, or any of these organisations can help you.

Contact tracing at Council sites

Record-keeping is mandatory.

To support the COVID-19 contact-tracing efforts consistently, we're encouraging people to use the Government's COVID Tracer app to record their movements around Wellington.

Download the free COVID Tracer app to your smartphone from the Apple iOS store, or Google Play app store.

If you don’t want to or aren’t able to use the app, we encourage you to use another method that works for you, like the NZ COVID Tracer booklet. You can download a printable version here.

Donate

Financial donations are a great way to help others in need. You can donate online via bank transfer at:

​Self-isolating at home

Guidance on self-isolating at home can be found on the Ministry of Health website – self-isolating at home.

If you have been asked by health officials to self-isolate and you can't work from home, you may be eligible for the COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme. Your employer needs to apply for you. You can also apply if you're self-employed. Find out more about the Leave Support Scheme on Work and Incomes website.

Support for Kāpiti businesses

Both Council and Central Government have provided a range of support to businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic and our recovery from lockdowns. These are outlined further on this page.

Businesses and COVID-19

The Government's Unite against COVID-19 website has extensive information for businesses and employees on working safely during COVID-19, and financial support and services available. 

Financial support

Various financial support schemes from central Government are available to help businesses and their employees recover from the effects of COVID-19.

For more information and how to apply, see Financial support for businesses on the Unite against COVID-19 website, which includes information on:

  • COVID-19 financial support tool
  • if your business has to close temporarily or reduce opening hours
  • if your business has reduced revenue
  • if an employee needs to self-isolate or get a COVID-19 test

Sign up for business updates

Sign up to receive regular business updates. You can also check out the useful information at KāpitiCoastNZ.com's Business in Kāpiti.