Welfare
Last updated: Tuesday 7 September, 11.59pm
Find out what is Council doing to support people in our district at each alert level.
You can also find services and contact information for when you need help, support, advice or information about COVID-19 on the Unite against Covid-19 website.
Help with essential household supplies | Accommodation | Financial assistance | How you can help others | How your volunteer group can help | More on health and wellbeing
Help with essential household supplies
For financial assistance, please call Work and Income on 0800 559 009.
If you have been temporarily displaced from your home due to COVID-19 and need support to find short term accommodation, please call the Temporary Accommodation Service on 0508 754 163 to register.
If you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or need to talk with someone, call or text 1737 to speak to a trained counsellor.
If you aren’t sure who to talk to, please call the Government Helpline on 0800 779 997.
If you don't have the essentials you need (such as food, medication or cleaning supplies), in the first instance call a:
- neighbour
- family member who lives nearby
- friend who lives nearby
You could also check the availability for shopping online.
For financial assistance, please call Work and Income on 0800 559 009.
If you have been temporarily displaced from your home due to COVID-19 and need support to find short term accommodation, please call the Temporary Accommodation Service on 0508 754 163 to register.
If you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or need to talk with someone, call or text 1737 to speak to a trained counsellor.
If you aren’t sure who to talk to, please call the Government Helpline on 0800 779 997.
Essential supplies
If you don't have the essentials you need (such as food, medication or cleaning supplies), in the first instance call a:
- neighbour
- family member who lives nearby
- friend who lives nearby
You could also check the availability for shopping online, local food parcels, pre-prepared meals, subscription food boxes (like My FoodBag and Hello Fresh), or other whole-food delivery service. If you need food urgently, the Kāpiti Community Foodbank (call 04 298 1907) may be able to help.
If you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or need to talk with someone, call or text 1737 to speak to a trained counsellor.
Accommodation
For renting and tenancy advice, contact Tenancy Services on 0800 836 262.
Financial assistance
For financial assistance, please call Work and Income on:
- 0800 559 009 – general line
- 0800 552 002 – seniors 65+
- 0800 88 99 00 – students.
You can also use the COVID-19 financial support tool on the Unite Against COVID-19 website to see what support is available to you.
How you can help others
Keeping our communities safe from COVID-19 requires us all to do the right thing and to follow the Ministry of Health’s advice. Stay at home if you’re feeling unwell, practice good hygiene, record your movements when you are out and about, and wear a face covering on public transport.
We encourage you to keep in touch with your whānau and neighbours and to discuss what support they might need if alert levels change.
Knowing your neighbours a little better makes for safer and more resilient communities.
We recognise that many people in our community want to support those who are unwell or are taking responsible steps to protect themselves and others.
We encourage you to stay connected and check in with your whānau and neighbours in a safe way to see if they need any support.
If you are running errands for whānau or neighbours, it’s important you keep yourself safe and healthy and follow the Ministry of Health’s physical distancing guidance when dropping off supplies.
Physical distancing continues to mean remaining at least 2 metres away from other people. Physical distancing is important to help protect you and others from COVID-19.
We recognise that many people in our community want to support those who are unwell or are taking responsible steps to protect themselves and others.
At Alert Level 4 and 3, national guidance is for volunteers to stay at home.
If you are not undertaking essential services under the direction of an essential service provider, the best way you can help others is by staying home and helping people from there.
We encourage you to stay connected and check in with your whānau and neighbours in a safe way to see if they need any support.
If you are running errands for whānau or neighbours, it’s important you keep yourself safe and healthy and follow the Ministry of Health’s physical distancing guidance when dropping off supplies.
Physical distancing continues to mean remaining at least 2 metres away from other people. Physical distancing is important to help protect you and others from COVID-19.
More on health and wellbeing
The COVID-19 website has detailed information on family violence and sexual violence prevention, ways to look after your mental health, vulnerable people, and information on funerals and tangihanga. Go to https://covid19.govt.nz/health-and-wellbeing/