Council Services - Life in the Covid-19 pandemic

Here to help you

COVID-19 INFORMATION

Please check out the details here and follow advice provided.

TESTING STATION

The Covid-19 Community Testing Station is open in Ōtorohanga.
Please only come to be tested if you:
• Have cold or flu symptoms OR
• Have been asked to get tested by a health official
If you have any concerns or queries please call Healthline for free on 0800 358 5453.
Details:
  • Ōtorohanga Sports Club carpark, Orahiri Terrace, Ōtorohanga from Monday to Friday from 9am-4pm.

ŌTOROHANGA VACCINATION CLINIC DETAILS

  • Ōtorohanga Medical, 13 Kakamutu Road, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm (please make an appointment)
  • Mobile Clinics - Mobile clinics can change at short notice, so please check www.waikatodhb.health.nz/covid19mobile for up-to-date information.

HOW TO BOOK ONLINE:

  • Book My Vaccine tool on the Ministry of Health webpage - health.govt.nz
  • Please Select - Maniapoto Whanau Ora (ŌTOROHANGA) 

HOW TO BOOK OVER THE PHONE:

  • Call 0800 28 29 26

ALTERNATIVE CONTACT:

  • 07 878 3680 - please mention Ōtorohanga Vaccination Clinic
  • Drop-ins are welcome
  • If you are having trouble getting to the clinic, or you need a ride please call: 07 878 3680

LIBRARIES

Ōtorohanga Library

  • The library will be open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturdays 10am to 12noon.
  • In the event that the number of staff available (due to COVID) drops to just two, the Library will reduce opening hours. 
  • If the service drops to one staff member, our contactless Click and Collect or Click and Courier will resume.
  • All people wishing to enter must be masked and sign in.

Kāwhia Library

Kawhia Library will resume normal opening hours with the exception of still being closed on a Saturday. 

  • In the event that there are no staff available to man this service, the Kawhia Library will close, and Kawhia residents can access Library services via Click and Courier from Otorohanga Library.

Any changes to opening hours at both sites, will be communicated via the Otorohanga District Council Website, or the Library Homepage.

We ask anyone accessing the library to follow the instructions of the library staff.  There will be layout designs in place to help reduce the potential exposure of Covid-19.

We will continue to monitor the presence of Covid-19 within our community and adjust our operations as appropriate to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of all our library customers.

Library Click n Courier

Free Click and Courier option or a Click and Collect option will be available if the libraries have to close due to isolating team members. 

To opt into this, please use your Library Card and PIN to log into our catalogue online https://ent.kotui.org.nz/client/en_AU/otorohanga/

Place holds on any books you would like delivered to your home (there is no change for this service) to a maximum of 10 books per member. 

If you don’t know how to place a hold, please email us at [email protected] and ask for a guide, or go to our Facebook Page and view the webinar.

Our team will be collecting books off the shelves, issuing them to you and couriering these to your home.  Please do check that your address in the system is correct by clicking on the My Account link at the top right hand side of the screen.  If your address has changed, please email us immediately to let us know so we can ensure your books get to you.

Also we have a range on online resources available 24/7.  Follow the links on our Library website.

REFUSE AND RECYCLING

  • Kerbside collection of yellow rubbish bags will continue as normal, for both Ōtorohanga and Kāwhia, on your usual collection days. 
  • The collection of kerbside recycling is happening as per usual in both Kāwhia and Ōtorohanga.
  • Street litter bins will continue to be monitored and emptied.
  • Ōtorohanga and Kāwhia recycling centres will be open as per their standard operating hours for disposal of prepaid yellow bags, green waste, refuse and recycling. There will be no cash handling at any of these sites. Face masks must be worn. You will all be asked to either sign in using the Covid-19 tracking app or complete a manual entry form.  This information will be posted in further detail outside the gate for you to read and follow.  EnviroWaste are putting processes in place to make this simple and without contact, so please be patient and follow the instructions.  People will be allowed in one person at a time and entry will be refused if you do not provide the appropriate information or refuse to wear a mask.
  • Rural recycling centres will open as of Monday 25 October. Please allow time for the centres to be cleared, and do not overload the bins as this poses a health and safety risk to our contractors. If the bins are over-filled, they may not be able to clear them. 

SWIMMING POOL

Please follow the Ōtorohanga Memorial Pool Complex Facebook page for details on how they will operate through the Traffic Light System.

PUBLIC TOILETS

Our public toilets are open.

PLAYGROUNDS

Our playgrounds are open.

Council owned recreational green spaces and walkways are open. Please be responsible when using these areas and maintain social distancing protocols (e.g. Stop bank pathway, Ōtorohanga Domain, Island Reserve, Bob Horsfall and Rotary Park, Aotea foreshore, Omimiti Park).

For any queries relating to our community facilities, please call Jared le Fleming on 07 873 4320.

LAWN MOWING AND GARDENING

Council lawn and garden maintenance will continue normal operations in both Ōtorohanga and Kāwhia.

BUILDING CONSENTS

We are processing and issuing building consents from home, and we are happy to accept building consents and resource consents electronically - via email (if small enough), OneDrive or Dropbox. Please send these to [email protected].

We are now conducting building inspections at Orange.

ANIMAL CONTROL

Please contact Perry Griffin on 021 247 2290.

ROADING

Roading will continue to do work for the safety of motorists. We will be working within the bounds of the contractor’s H&S rules that they have in place for themselves. We currently do not have any major contracts underway that will impact on road users and contractors.

WATER

Please phone through all requests for service to Council as normal, and staff will attend depending on the urgency.  

CEMETERIES

For all enquiries, please call our Customer Service team on 07 873 4000.

RATES

Rates processing will continue as normal during this time. If you would like specific information about your account please email us on [email protected]

WORK AND INCOME / COMMUNITY SUPPORT AVAILABLE

Depending on your situation, there are a range of ways Work and Income and community organisations may be able to help you and your family. You don’t need to be on a benefit: help is also available to people on low incomes.  Click here [PDF 196 KB] to find out more.

If you are isolating with COVID-19 and are unable get to the shops, need assistance with food or just need help during this time, then head to www.heretohelpu.nz or call: 0800 568 273 for help and support.
Please visit the Unite Against Covid-19 website for the most accurate information on current restrictions, this can be found here.

We will update you with any changes to the above services as the restrictions change.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation - stay safe.