1158 days ago

Covid-19 Update: Covid-19: Kmart and vape store among new locations of interest linked to new case

Caryn Wilkinson Reporter from Community News

Hi Neighbours,

Here's an important Covid-19 update:

Georgia Forrester and George Block

A Kmart and a vape store in Auckland are the latest locations linked to the movements of a person who has tested positive for Covid-19.

The owner of the vape store, Dark Vapes, in East Tamaki, said the closure of his shop on Wednesday for deep cleaning, followed by his mandatory self-isolation, would be tough for his small business.

Three new community cases of Covid-19 in south Auckland were announced on Tuesday.

The first was a student at Papatoetoe High School, which the Ministry of Health announced earlier in the day. Two other cases – the student’s siblings, who are a teenager and an infant – were confirmed on Tuesday evening.

Kmart in Botany, in east Auckland, and Dark Vapes are among the places of interest visited by one of the cases, with further locations expected to be released on Wednesday.

Kmart Botany

The teenager reported as a new case on Tuesday night works at Kmart Botany.

They were at work on Friday, February 19 and Saturday, February 20, between 3.30pm and 10.30pm.

The store was closed on Tuesday night, and a thorough sanitisation of the store was being carried out, a Kmart spokesperson said.

Thirty-one Kmart staff have been identified as close contacts and are self-isolating, the ministry said.

Any members of the public who visited Kmart Botany at the times the student was working is considered a casual plus contact, and must self-isolate at home immediately.

Casual plus contacts are those who would have been considered casual contacts, but have been upgraded due to the risk of the more transmissible strains of the virus.

“If you are a casual plus contact, you are advised to immediately isolate at home and call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice on isolation time frames and testing requirements,” the ministry said.

Dark Vapes

One of the two high school students announced as new cases on Tuesday also twice visited Dark Vapes in East Tamaki, on Friday and Saturday.

The owner, who did not want to be named, said the store would be closed on Wednesday for deep cleaning, and he would isolate at home for 14-days, as per Ministry of Health advice.

“It's going to be tough for the business.”

He said the store would be able to reopen after cleaning as another staff member was available to help run it.

The owner did not know the identity of the case who visited.

A Ministry of Health spokeswoman said she was not sure which of the cases visited the store.

The visits to the vape store took place on Friday, February 19 between 2.30pm and 4pm, and also Saturday, February 20, between 7pm and 8.30pm.

People who visited the store during these times are considered to be casual-plus contacts.

More locations are expected to be released by the ministry on its website.

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5 days ago

Poll: Does the building consent process need to change?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

We definitely need homes that are fit to live in but there are often frustrations when it comes to getting consent to modify your own home.
Do you think changes need made to the current process for building consent? Share your thoughts below.

Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.

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Does the building consent process need to change?
  • 91.3% Yes
    91.3% Complete
  • 8.2% No
    8.2% Complete
  • 0.5% Other - I'll share below!
    0.5% Complete
1406 votes
5 hours ago

Dig the rhythms, East FM, Saturday from midday...

Phil from Farm Cove

Taylor Griffin is an original Groove Guy and known in the east (as well as other places) and with it being an exciting time for him, with the release of his debut EP, In Green, he’s the featured artist on tomorrow’s She’ll Be Right on Saturdays Show with PJ Taylor, midday to 4pm (NZ time, April 27) on East FM.

In Green eloquently and dynamically represents jazz in the now, and future, beautifully and thoughtfully expressed by musicians of the highest order. They’re mates, too.

Taylor Griffin, as his press department writes, ‘is a new and emerging artist, drummer and producer from Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland’.

In Green reached No. 9 in the NZ Album Charts, and got to No. 5 in the Top 10 Albums in Independent Music NZ. It’s co-produced and mixed by master musician Nathan Haines.
‘In Green EP represents a large body of work that began its life during Taylor’s time at Auckland University, where he studied jazz under internationally renowned musicians including Ron Samsom, Chris O’Connor, Roger Manins, Oli Holland, and Kevin Field.’

The EP was written and produced after the third lockdown. ‘And represents a shift in the way forward, in light of modern and global changes. In Green EP explores modern jazz through the lexicon of heavy grooves and Latin flavours with tasteful and lush sounds masterfully mixed in.’

Taylor recently returned from London where he’s begun recording new music for a later release (full-length album), ‘with the legendary Kiwi expat Dave Holmes at Lightship 95. In doing so he’s collaborated with London based artists such as Arjuna Oakes, Rudi Creswick (bass player for Tom Misch), Pluum, Dylan Jones and Ben Vize.’

In Green EP credits:
Written and produced by Taylor Griffin. Co-produced and mixed by Nathan Haines at Zoot Music. Taylor Griffin, drums, percussion, vocals. Nathan Haines, flute, soprano saxophone. Rachel Clarke, vocals. Saia Folau, vocals. Leo McMenamin, keyboards. Michal Martyniuk, Rhodes, synths. Guy Harrison, trumpet, synths. Charlie Isdale, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute. Geoff Ong, guitar, bass. Robert Picot, guitar. Joseph Corban-Banks, session engineer at The Groove Suite studio. Neil Baldock, drum mixing engineer at Zoot Music. Distributed through Bigpop Records. Mastered by Clinton McCreery at Bambu Music, London.

taylorsgrooves.bandcamp.com...

East FM is East Auckland’s fair-dinkum community-powered public service radio station, on 88.1FM and 107.1FM on local frequencies, nationally and globally at www.eastfm.nz... and on app iHeart Radio.

She’ll Be Right - it’s all about the vibe; it’s all about the groove. Providing a platform for NZ music and performing artists to exhibit their talents since ages ago. Ka pai. – PJ

1 day ago

Lest we forget...

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

On this ANZAC Day, let's take a moment to remember and honor the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country.

Tell us who are you honouring today. Whether it's a story from the battlefield or a memory of a family member who fought in the war, we'd love you to share your stories below.

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