EIT trades staff laid low with Covid, classes suspended

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Classes were suspended at the Tairāwhiti campus of EIT Te Pukenga last week after six staff members in the trades area (carpentry, engineering and automotive) tested positive for Covid-19.

Other staff were also showing similar symptoms of the virus. Based on this situation, and the possible spread of the virus, it was decided to temporarily suspend Trades Academy classes until Monday

this week.

This affected a number of secondary school students across Tairāwhiti. who attend Trades Academy classes at the Gisborne campus on a Friday.

Affected EIT Te Pukenga staff are self-isolating and are expected to return to work this week.

Covid-19 mitigating measures such as deep cleaning and fog sanitising have also been carried out in areas where those affected staff work.

Campus manager Waata Shepherd said EIT Te Pukenga took these incidents very seriously.

“We are very conscious of how prevalent and quickly spread this disease can be if we don’t take decisive action immediately, hence our actions to date,” he said.

“We remain vigilant in keeping our students and staff safe during these times.”