The queue of vehicles waiting for Covid testing in Kamo, Whangārei.
Photo: RNZ / Liu Chen
The Ngātiwai Trust Board said it was inundated with complaints from kaumātua and whānau who were forced to spend hours in hot conditions awaiting tests.
Ngātiwai Trust Board chair Aperahama Kerepeti-Edwards told
Morning Report that authorities needed to ensure adequate staffing at testing centres in the region as Auckland Anniversary weekend approaches, describing the scenes from Monday as bedlam . Clearly yesterday there was a significant need and fortunately some of those who just happened to be there stepped forward to assist in terms of assisting flow of traffic but in terms of basic relief, that s our focus and priority.
Northland Covid-19 testing sites overwhelmed, public anxiety and workforce shortage to blame
25 Jan, 2021 04:00 PM
8 minutes to read
Valeria, Mila, and Lance Gilmore were one of many whānau trying to keep cool as hundreds of cars lined up at the Ruakākā testing station yesterday. Photo / Tania Whyte
Northern Advocate
Northlanders were forced to wait hours at Covid-19 testing sites across Whangārei and Mangawhai as thousands swarmed to get tested yesterday.
Even with two extra testing stations at Mangawhai Domain and Pohe Island in Whangārei, anxious Northlanders had no choice but to withstand almost 30C heat as they waited in their cars.
Covid 19 coronavirus: Distressed and anxious : Ngātiwai s urgent call for more testing in Whangārei-Kaipara
25 Jan, 2021 08:40 PM
3 minutes to read
Originally published by Māori Television
The Ngātiwai Trust Board has raised urgent concerns with the Northland District Health Board and government officials about what it says are inadequate numbers of community-based testing centres available in the Whangārei–Kaipara region.
Ngātiwai Trust Board chairman, Aperahama Kerepeti-Edwards, says: We have had a number of kaumātua and whānau contact us today distressed and anxious. They have said that they are arriving at the testing centres only to find huge queues and wait times of three hours or more. They are sitting in their cars in near 30C heat, getting hot, thirsty and distressed.