Covid 19 coronavirus Delta outbreak: Covid victim's family grief compounded by L4 restrictions

September 8 2021 There are 15 new cases of Covid-19 in the community today. There are 37 people in hospital, including six in ICU or HDU.

Grief for the whānau of the country's latest Covid-19 death is compounded by Auckland's level 4 restrictions.

The Ministry of Health last week confirmed the woman, in her 90s, died in North Shore Hospital overnight on Friday.

She had a number of underlying conditions but is now New Zealand's 27th person to have died of Covid.

The woman was a founder of Hoani Waititi Marae in West Auckland.

Read More

• Covid 19 Delta outbreak: 15 community Covid cases today - Chris Hipkins - NZ Herald
• Covid 19 coronavirus Delta outbreak: More locations released, the latest visit two days ago - N...
• Covid-19 coronavirus Delta outbreak: 29 staff at Middlemore Hospital stood down after identifie...
• Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Will Jacinda Ardern need to dampen vaccine demand, or has she locked i...

Waipareira Trust chief executive John Tamihere referred to the woman as "one of our Māori nannies" who played a large part in the running of the marae.

However, while still coming to terms with her death, her whānau were struggling with the fact they won't be able to hold a proper tangi for her.

"The family desires privacy because they're a very traditional family. They are still grieving over their inability to tangi for her.

"They're going through a very difficult process at the moment and not being allowed to bring in extended family and all her mokopuna.

"So they're doing it a bit hard. They're a long-time family and backbone of Hoani Waititi Marae."

The woman was also involved in the marae's peace programmes and youth projects.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern earlier expressed her condolences to the family and loved ones.

"Every death is a reminder of the damage Covid-19 can cause when it gets into our community," she said.

‌