Te Urewera L2 Safe Practice

Te Urewera is Open at Level 2 – with safe practices

While lockdown at home wasn’t too terrible the want for nature, the smells of the forest, stretching those legs now carrying excess home cooking, and filling our kÄ pata kai may now be calling.

The Waikaremoana Great Walk, all other walks, hunting & fishing, and Te Urewera Huts will be open during Level 2 but there are conditions which need to be understood and followed if we are to give ourselves confidence that our communities and our manuhiri are safe.

We all need to feel responsible for being safe in all of our Te Urewera interactions looking after each other - together keeping COVID-19 out of Te Urewera.

Our Tūhoe Tribal communities are feeling anxious about interregional travel into valley’s and with no guarantees on hygiene practices being followed we worry about becoming sites of COVID transmission. The fear we have in causing COVID transmission amongst both our manuhiri and our whānau, represents the

opposite of our sense of duty to those interacting with Te Urewera.

Over the next few weeks you will see our Te Urewera team, checking up on huts, structures, walkways and waterways, monitoring movement over coming weeks to make sure we have in place the best precautionary measures possible to keep COVID out.

So, are you planning on coming to Te Urewera?

Welcome, enari, there’s a few things we need for you to be on top of: • You will need to bring your own cleaning equipment with you and as a minimum an antiviral disinfectant and cloth.

• We are asking you to fill out a quick trip report. This will be crucial if we need to contact trace anyone who may have been in contact with Covid-19. So, If you are a boatie, hunter, hiker, nature lover, or fisherman?

You will need to fill out the Trip Report here • Fill out intention books.

• Check in at Te Kura Whenua – just to say hi! And let us know that you’re out there.

• And remember – no rubbish in Te Urewera – Pack in Pack Out.

Are you planning on Staying in Te Urewera Huts and Campsites?

Safe practices means;

This is where we will all need to be extra careful.

We think that this is where we are at the most risk of spreading Covid-19.

• Bring an antiviral disinfectant, Te Urewera bookable or nonthis is what will kill the germs. bookable huts will be limited to Have examples of products we a maximum of 10 people per day. like.

You will be required to; • Be prepared to self-sufficiently • Fill out the Trip report camp out, especially at non• Clean surfaces of all facilities bookable huts. when you arrive and when you • Follow Social distancing advice, leave. and all hygiene advice.

• Clean any shared surfaces regularly.

• When cleaning facilities you have used soak surfaces for at least 10 seconds for disinfectant to work.

Are you planning on hiking or tramping in Te Urewera?

Safe practices means;

• Filling out the Trip report!

• Following hygiene practices - Bring your own soap and/or sanitiser.

• Social distance, making sure you keep a 2m distance from new friends.

• Telling us about poor behaviour.

Are you planning on hunting & fishing in Te Urewera?

Safe practices means;

• Filling out the Trip report!

• Ensure that you have the appropriate permit, and follow all instructions.

• Be extra careful and follow safe hunting practices, there may be more people than usual hunting in Te Urewera • Following hygiene practices bring your own soap and/or sanitiser.

• Practice social distancing, keeping 2 meters from strangers.

• Be prepared to self-sufficiently camp out.

Remember, these safe practices will help our communities stay safe and ensure that we take responsibility for each other’s well-being.

With the yearning to stretch our legs strong and the call of Te Urewera loud, playing our part and following the safety practices helps us stay caring and responsible.

For hunters, there is a worry over the initial and potential influx of hunters as we restart.

Please be vigilant out there. Expect there to be other hunters close by and please be prepared to think of other spots and other locations as whÄ nau and friends look to supplement the cupboard. We’ll be checking car parks and noting car license plates, hoping for everyone’s safety.