Coronavirus COVID-19 advice - ATMC New Zealand

20 November 2022

WE ARE OPEN!

Kia ora

Following closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic, ATMC NZ is excited to be opening again and welcoming back students from all over the world. Our time in hibernation has allowed us to review our programs, update our resources and improve our facilities so we are confident that we can offer all our students an enjoyable and quality learning journey.

Dr Huhana Forsyth

Director of Studies, ATMC NZ

1 June 2021

Situation update

Kia ora

Due to Covid 19, New Zealand has closed the borders to international students. ATMC NZ has entered a period of hibernation and will re-open for enrolments when the border restrictions ease. Please check this web site for updates on when we will resume taking enrolments.

For all students and their families living in New Zealand, please follow the Ministry of Health’s advice on keeping safe. Remember to use the Covid scanning app to track your movements.

Getting Vaccinated

I have received my vaccination with no side effects. I chose to get the vaccine for my own health, for my family, and to help protect our most vulnerable. While I understand it is a personal choice, the sooner we have most of our citizens vaccinated, the sooner we can open our borders and return to a new ‘normal’. If you choose to, as soon you are eligible, I advise you to get vaccinated.

Dr Huhana Forsyth

Director of Studies, ATMC NZ

30 April 2020

Kia ora Everyone,

Day three of Alert Level 3 and day three of the new term. Alert Level 3 provides some relief from the total lockdown we endured at Alert Level 4. Some businesses are open, we can get a coffee and we can order goods on line, we can walk on the beach. However, we are still very much in a contactless social distance mode.

I cannot stress enough that the social distance separation requirements of 2 metres still applies for all activities. Health and personal hygiene requirements remain high and the requirements to stay home, stay local and stay in your bubble remain. The COVID-19 virus has not gone away. It is still out there, and it will not take much to let it spread widely and quickly if social connections outside our bubble allow it. So enjoy your coffee and a walk at the beach or a park, but please remain vigilant and alert, and maintain the requirements of Alert Level 3.

The messaging from the Government and the Ministry of Education is to remain home and work and study remotely wherever possible. ATMC-NZ has taken this direction, and have made every possible technological advantage to ensure that everyone can work or study remotely. Therefore, the campus remains closed. If you do experience any technical issue that may hinder your progress through your studies, then please let your tutor know. We will do our best to resolve issues to ensure that you can remain at home, in a safe environment, minimising the contact with others.

I am aware that some students are concerned for their own health situation and who also wish to minimise their exposure to the virus. We have some staff who also feel the same way. Keeping the campus closed will maximise our efforts to keeping staff and students safe. Keeping students safe is our first priority.

In my last message to you all, I indicated that the campus will be closed “until further notice”. There is no indication of when the Government may move to Alert Level 2. We know the current level will be reviewed on 11 May. We also do not know how the COVID-19 virus will play out during this slightly more relaxed environment. The team at ATMC-NZ are also aware that any changes to delivery mode during the term may disrupt learning. For these reasons, the ATMC-NZ campus will remain closed for the remainder of Term 2. Your remote learning mode will continue as it is currently. Regardless of any alert level changes on 11 May, the campus will remain closed, even if New Zealand moves to Alert Level 2.

As always, if you feel unwell, stay home.

If you experience a shortness of breath, a temperature, a runny nose or a cough, seek medical help and get a COVID-19 test as soon as possible.

If you are concerned for anyone in your bubble, talk to them.

If you are concerned about your course work, talk to your tutor.

If you are concerned about your studies, visa or any other matter regarding your time at ATMC, talk to the Student Services Manager.

If you are concerned about your family, call them.

Be kind.

Be safe.

Keep your social distance from others.

Together, we can do this.

Ngā mihi nui,
Laurie Richardson

Director of Operations & Compliance

23 April

Kia ora everyone,

In my last message to you all on 21 April, I indicated that there were three courses where it may have been necessary to enable study to continue on campus due to access requirements to IT equipment. Our IT department and the Director of Studies has, with the assistance of timetabling access to equipment, made assurances that all courses delivered in term 2 2020 can be delivered to students in our current mode of remote learning.

I am, therefore, making the call, in line with the messaging from the New Zealand Government and reinforced by the Ministry of Education, that the ATMC-NZ campus will remain closed for the duration of the COVID-19 Alert Level 3 and until further notice.

All teaching and other activities will be done remotely. All teaching, meetings, and other usual on-site activities will be done remotely. Your timetable remains as set, you will continue to attend classes via MS Teams, and you will continue to engage in learning activities.

The decision to keep the campus closed is effective for all ATMC-NZ students and NMIT students and all staff. The decision is not a hard one to make. It is a directive from the New Zealand Government. It is a strategy that the ATMC Team are keen to maintain if it keeps our staff and students safe, keeps them in their bubble, and helps to minimise the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

If anyone is experiencing difficulties with technology or access to specialist equipment, then please contact Reception with your concern or issue. Once received, we will make all effort to ensure that your learning continues as smooth as possible.

As always, your physical and mental health is important. If you have any concerns, remember, you can contact ATMC-NZ anytime by phone 09 309 5208 or Email reception@atmc.ac.nz or through the ATMC-NZ 24/7 emergency number 0800 101 619. If you are concerned for your or others mental wellbeing, then access the mental health support service at https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/get-help/covid-19/ . Please access official information on the COVID-19 from www.covid19.govt.nz .

Be kind to those close. Be supportive and tolerant. Express the way you feel in a gentle way. Go for walks in your local area, get some exercise.

If you feel unwell, have a cough, have a temperature, having difficulties breathing, then seek help, get tested and get better. If you are feeling unwell, contact your Doctor. If you do experience any of these symptoms, or you think you may have been in contact with someone who has the Coronavirus, then please go to this website to find a COVID-19 testing centre near you http://www.adhb.health.nz/about-us/news-and-publications/latest-stories/covid-19-community-testing-network/ .

21 April

Kia Ora everyone,

You may have heard the announcement from the New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern yesterday, stating that New Zealand will transition from Alert Level 4 to level 3 on Tuesday 28 April. You will also be wondering what this means for you and your studies.

The message from the Prime Minister was clear in that she requested that where possible, stay home, stay in your bubble, stay local. Some business will open, if they can do so in a contactless manner. Café’s may open, but it will only be for take away food and coffee, and some primary and early childhood schools are to open so that those working in the health sector and other priority sectors can send their children to school.

The Ministry of Education has sent various bulletins and information emails over the last two days, of which one for Students is attached. The messaging is clear and in line with the statements from Jacinda Ardern.

All teaching and other activities should be done remotely, wherever possible; and
All teaching, meetings, and other usual on-site activities should be done remotely, wherever possible.

There are two possible situations where students and/or staff may be required to be on campus during the Alert Level 3, these being for the

NMIT Postgraduate Diploma in IT Security Management course in ‘Ethical Hacking and Incident Handling’; and the
ATMC Bachelor of Applied Arts (Digital Media) ‘Project Ideation’ and the ‘Digital Media Capstone Project’ courses.

ATMC are currently working on establishing IT solutions enabling students to access the required technology remotely. Current students in the ATMC Bachelor of Applied Arts (Digital Media) already access all the required technology off campus.

In line with the Ministry of Education statements, the ATMC campus will, under Alert Level 3, remain closed. If IT solutions for the three courses (stated above) cannot be found, then we will provide the required managed and strictly controlled access. ATMC will communicate these processes to the students who may require access if and when that is appropriate.

In the meantime, please be aware that ATMC-NZ campus will remain closed throughout the duration of Alert Level 3.

As always, National and international messaging states that social distancing is a key feature for managing the COVID-19 pandemic, as is personal hygiene and protective equipment. My message to you all is to keep doing what you are doing: maintain your 2 metre distance from others, wash hands and face regularly, wear protective gloves and a face mask if you go out where people congregate (like supermarkets) and don’t share food.

Your physical and mental health is important. If you have any concerns, remember, you can contact ATMC-NZ anytime by phone 09 309 5208 or

Email reception@atmc.ac.nz or through the ATMC-NZ 24/7 emergency number 0800 101 619. If you are concerned for your or others mental wellbeing, then access the mental health support service at https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/get-help/covid-19/. Please access official information on the COVID-19 from www.covid19.govt.nz.

Be kind to those close. Be supportive and tolerant. Express the way you feel in a gentle way. Go for walks in your local area, get some exercise.

See the bottom of this page for more advice on Covid-19.

17 April

The New Zealand Government today announced what business and life activities will be like under a COVID-19 alert level 3. There is much anticipation for the move from alert level 4 down to level 3, with the hope that things will ease up and life will return to normal. It is clear from the announcement that there will be minimal changes to what we have experienced for the last three weeks at level 4. Social distancing is still a big factor to manage and control the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, businesses that can remain closed are to remain closed. Where work from home is possible then that should be mandatory. Ms Ardern started that “Public-facing bars and cafes, malls and retail stores have too much contact with the public so they will remain closed”. Although this statement does not state educational facilities, the education industry also relies on contact. We will keep you updated as we receive further guidance from the Government.

With the indications from today’s announcement, the delivery mode that ATMC-NZ has adopted over the last three weeks may remain under alert level 3. The campus may partially open to enable isolated and managed activities. Your tutors and our support staff will continue to support you. You will remain to be the focus of our attention. What can and cannot do under alert level 3 is still being clarified. The Government will announce on Monday 20 April if the alert level 4 will be lifted. Regardless of the date that we return to the alert level 3, teaching and learning will remain constant, and will continue in the current remote mode.

If you have any concerns or worries regarding the continuing level of remote learning at ATMC-NZ or any other related issue (family worries, visa concerns, health issues) then please do not hesitate to contact Reception or the Student Support Service at ATMC-NZ.

The ATMC-NZ Student Support team will be in touch with you soon to see if they can engage you in some level of social engagement and activity. If you have any suggestions, please send these through to Jo Wiki or direct to the Reception contact details.

As always, your physical and mental health is important. If you have any concerns, remember, you can contact ATMC-NZ anytime by phone 09 309 5208 or email reception@atmc.ac.nz or through the ATMC-NZ 24/7 emergency number 0800 101 619. If you are concerned for your or others mental wellbeing, then access the mental health support service at https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/get-help/covid-19/. Please access official information on the COVID-19 from www.covid19.govt.nz.

Be kind to those close. Be supportive and tolerant. Express the way you fell in a gentle way. Go for walks in your local area, get some exercise.

See the bottom of this page for more advice on Covid-19.

7 April 2020

It has been two weeks since ATMC-NZ started delivering classes remotely after New Zealand went to COVID-19 Alert Level 4. Feedback from both staff and students is telling us that learning is happening, classes are continuing, and students are supported, while we all remain home in our own bubble. it is all the more reason to remind ourselves of why we are studying remotely. We do it to keep ourselves safe, and we do it to keep others safe. We can only do it when we stay in our bubble, stay home and by staying two metres away from those who are not in our bubble. Please, wash your hands regularly, maintain your distance from others, stay in your bubble, exercise regularly, and stay safe.

It is likely that New Zealand will be at an Alert Level 4 for another two weeks. This means that we will, at least, be in our bubble and learning in our remote mode until at least 22 April 2020. ATMC-NZ will continue to support our students. Classes will continue to be delivered according to the timetable, and we will continue to work remotely.

If, at any time any student feels that they need a little support, need to talk to someone, looking for some advice or guidance, then contact Reception and leave a message. All calls and emails to Reception are monitored and directed to the person or section as appropriate. Please contact the Reception at:

Phone 09 309 5208 or
Email reception@atmc.ac.nz or

ATMC-NZ 24/7 emergency number 0800 101 619

One area to be vigilant about is the mental wellbeing of yourself and of those around you. Being isolated physically in your bubble can add stress and anxiety to the way of life we currently experience under this Alert level. How we and others around you act and react may be different to that experienced before New Zealand went into lockdown. We are told that this is quite normal, but we also have to be mindful of it, accept it, and recognise it. So be kind to those close. Be supportive and tolerant. Express the way you fell in a gentle way. Go for walks in your local area, get some exercise. If you are concerned for your or others mental wellbeing, then the following link will direct you to the New Zealand Mental Health organisation website. https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/get-help/covid-19/

Your best place to go for information about the New Zealand response to the COVID-19 pandemic is the New Zealand Government’s website, at www.covid19.govt.nz or the Ministry of Health website at www.health.govt.nz. Both sites will provide you with up-to date information and advice.

We are all in this together. Together we can get through this pandemic. Stay in touch, stay in your bubble, stay safe.

16 March, 2020

At present, ATMC-NZ has no identified cases of anyone having direct contact with someone with the virus. Further, no one (students or staff) have displayed symptoms or been tested as positive for having the virus.

The New Zealand Government has put in place self-isolation requirements for anyone arriving in New Zealand from any port or country, excluding the Pacific Islands. This means that any student arriving in New Zealand this week onward and until further notice, will have to self-isolate.

ATMC-NZ is developing systems, tools and processes to enable teaching staff, student service staff, and students to continue teaching, learning, assessments, and support as if we were all or some were in self-isolation for a period of two weeks. Training sessions will be rolled out over the next two weeks and the systems, tools and processes tested this week. ATMC-NZ will keep you up to date with the testing and training sessions.

This week and for the foreseeable future, teaching and learning continues as normal. There will be no changes to timetables, teaching staff, or your support services. Please come to the campus as normal.

If you are feeling unwell

If you are feeling unwell at any stage, please call your doctor or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 in the first instance.

You can also call ATMC at on our 24/7 emergency number 0800 101 619.

If you are feeling unwell and are experiencing one or more of the symptoms (see the symptoms below), do not come to the ATMC-NZ campus. Please contact the Reception at:

Phone 09 309 5208 or
Email reception@atmc.ac.nz or
ATMC-NZ 24/7 emergency number 0800 101 619

The Ministry of Health present the following advice.

Prevention is the best medicine

Cough or sneeze into your elbow or by covering your mouth and nose with tissues.
Put used tissues in the bin or a bag immediately.
Wash your hands with soap and water often (for at least 20 seconds).
Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.
Avoid personal contact, such as kissing, sharing cups or food with sick people, handshakes, hugging and hongi.
At least 2 metres of personal space between individuals is recommended.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as doorknobs.
Stay home if you feel unwell.
Call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 if you have any symptoms and have been to any countries or territories of concern or have been in close contact with someone confirmed with COVID-19.

Wash your hands

Cleaning your hands frequently throughout the day by washing with soap and water for 20 seconds or using hand sanitiser will help protect you and the people you live with. This step is one of the most effective ways of reducing the risk of infection to you and to other people. If you live with others, they should also wash their hands regularly as a precaution.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Face masks

Face masks are not recommended as an effective means of preventing the spread of infection. They play an important role in clinical settings, such as hospitals, but there’s very little evidence of benefit from their use outside of these settings.

Symptoms include

a cough
a high temperature (at least 38°C)
shortness of breath.

These symptoms do not necessarily mean you have COVID-19. The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as a normal cold and flu.

Shortness of breath is a sign of possible pneumonia and requires immediate medical attention.

We don’t yet know how long symptoms take to show after a person has been infected, but current World Health Organization assessments suggest that it is 2–10 days.

If you have these symptoms and have recently been to a country or area of concern, or have been in close contact with someone confirmed with COVID-19, please telephone Healthline (for free) on 0800 358 5453 or your doctor immediately.

What to do if exposed to the virus

People returning from any country except from the Pacific Island nations, or who may have been exposed to COVID-19, are to self-isolate themselves for 14 days from the date of departure to keep their communities safe.

If you have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 you should self-isolate for 14 days from the date of close contact.

Self-isolation

Staying home is a precautionary measure to protect those around you – your family, friends, colleagues - from possibly contracting COVID-19. Self-isolation is an effective measure of prevention. We are asking people to take simple, common-sense steps to avoid close contact with other people as much as possible, like you would with the seasonal flu virus. We know it may be a stressful time, but taking these measures will help protect you, your family, and all of New Zealand from COVID-19 and other common infectious diseases.

As much as possible, you should limit your contact with people other than the family members/companions you travelled with. You should avoid having visitors to your home, but it is okay for friends, family or delivery drivers to drop off food and supplies.

If you are in a home where the others who live with you haven’t travelled, you should minimise close contact with them by avoiding situations where you have face-to-face contact closer than 2 metres for more than 15 minutes. The other household residents do not need to self-isolate provided these precautions are followed.

You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, pillows or other items with other people in your home. After using these items, you should wash them thoroughly with soap and water, place them in the dishwasher for cleaning or wash them in your washing machine.

Contact Healthline for free on 0800 358 5453 if you begin to feel unwell. The symptoms of COVID-19 are cough, fever, and shortness of breath.

For all non-health related questions, call 0800 Government (0800 779 997).