The last newsletter for 2022 will be sent on Friday 16th December 2022.
The next newsletter will be sent on Friday 13th January 2023.
Have a safe-as summer
Get ready for a safe-as summer. Enjoy summer this year by being prepared and knowing how to stay safe from COVID-19.
Keep up to date with your vaccinations before you go on holiday - including boosters. Māori and Pacific people aged over 40 can now get the second booster.
Have enough RATs to test everyone in your whanau over the holidays and take some with you when travelling. Order them online or by phone and pick them up from collection sites around the motu.
If you get COVID-19 while travelling, have a plan to get home and where to safley isolate. Take RATs, hand sanitiser, face masks and your usual medications with you.
Attending or hosting events this summer
If you are hosting or inviting people into your home:
- have hand sanitiser available;
- open the windows and doors;
- eat outdoors when possible; and
- spend time outside.
If you or anyone in your home is sick, do not host gatherings or invite people over. Encourage friends and whānau who are unwell to test for COVID-19 and stay home.
If you are attending events:
- do not go to an event if you are sick;
- test immediately if you develop any COVID-19 symptoms;
- stay outdoors as much as possible; and
- wash or sanitise your hands when you arrive and leave an event.
Get help over summer
- Call the dedicated COVID-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for free COVID health advice anytime - even on public holidays.
- For any other non-urgent health concerns, call the general Healthline number on 0800 611 116 for free.
- Check the holiday hours of your usual doctor or health provider.
- Call the COVID-19 disability helpline for free on 0800 11 12 13 or text 8988. It can help with vaccines, testing, face mask exemptions, managing COVID-19, and any other health concerns you may have. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Hospital emergency departments and most urgent care clinics remain open. If it is an emergency, always call 111.
Get latest advice and information about COVID-19 in New Zealand, including information on testing, mental wellbeing and vaccines.
Welcome to Waka Toa Ora
Waka Toa Ora is a Canterbury DHB-led inter-sectoral collaborative partnership in the Canterbury region. The partnership is based on the WHO Healthy Cities model, and was previously known as Healthy Christchurch.
The key theme of initiative is that all sectors and groups have a role to play in creating a healthy Canterbury, whatever their specific focus (recreation, employment, youth, environmental enhancement, transport, housing or another aspect of health or wellbeing).
This inter-sectoral initiative fosters collaboration between organisations who have signed the Waka Toa Ora Charter.
Read the Waka Toa Ora Charter - updated July 2019.
The new name Waka Toa Ora communicates that we are all in a waka together. We are rowing in the same direction and navigating the many dimensions of wellbeing (physical, social, spiritual, and mental and emotional — hau ora, wai ora, mauri ora, toi ora). We are stronger navigating the regional landscape together.
There are currently over 200 charter signatories to the Waka Toa Ora Charter, including government agencies, businesses, voluntary sector groups, networks and residents’ associations. The organisations involved reflect a diverse focus and cover many aspects of health and wellbeing.
