We will get through this together

It seems like forever ago that everything changed. But, it was only last week the Prime Minister announced a nationwide lockdown to protect us from a virus that is infecting the world.

As I write this, we are nearing 1,000,000 cases worldwide and over 700 cases in New Zealand. We thankfully seem to be ahead of it, just. It is clear in countries without forced lockdowns we are seeing a rapid rise in cases and deaths. For instance, USA now has double the cases that China has; and China has four times the population. I can’t imagine how terrifying it is for the USA and other countries where it is now seemingly out of control.

I first want to acknowledge our nurses, doctors, midwives, other health workers, police, supermarket workers, bus drivers, cleaners, council and government staff and the thousands of essential workers - and of course Dr Ashely Bloomfield, the Prime Minister and her team - who are all doing their bit to keep New Zealand safe, healthy and well fed.

Many essential workers won’t see their families properly for weeks or months and are choosing to take the risk of exposure on themselves to help others. Giving up our freedom to save others is the least we can do right now.

Many of you might find staying home overwhelming. For some, working from home may feel like a blessing that we can still secure an income. But for many people, they will be giving up much more: losing income or work, great local business could close, some will miss the birth of grandchildren or in my case I won’t be able to see my newborn nephew, there will be people who lose loved ones and cannot attend a funeral or tangi or say their last goodbyes. This is not easy or simple for most.

Our communities survive hardship by working together and being honest when it’s tough. This is hard, but I am seeing our community reach out to each other more than ever, which is great. We also need to share what we’re feeling, share what we’re going through, reach out when we’re not okay, and check in on each other, especially check in on friends and family living alone.

I’m fortunate to have work and to have a role that allows me to help others, though the nature of my role has changed. I chair the Environment and Climate Change Committee - the work is now on hold for emergency decisions only - and a lot of my work is now helping join people up with the assistance they need: Work and Income, the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; or helping people apply for their wage subsidy. I am also spreading information far and wide on all issues to make sure people understand the ever changing nature of this crisis.

However this ends, whenever this ends, our rebuild needs to take on all the lessons learnt through this. I want to help rebuild our local economy and environment to be resilient and safe so our community can focus on their families, friends, livelihoods, wealth, health, hope, and happiness.

For now, please focus on getting through. The emotions we put aside through difficult times can hit without warning and I want to stress that services such as texting or calling 1737 are there for you at any time. We need to normalise reaching out. We all feel these things.

Take Care and Stay Home. We will get through this together.