COVID-19 – Information & Activities

All our information supports guidelines set out by the Ministry of Health and the New Zealand Government. To find out more information visit the New Zealand COVID-19 website. https://covid19.govt.nz

Up to date information on alert levels

Please visit the Sport New Zealand website for all the latest on alert level guidelines for sport, play and active recreation.

https://sportnz.org.nz/covid-19-response/alert-level-information/

Contacting Sport Whanganui
Please contact your Aidan O’Connor, Sport and Club Partnership lead for further help or support.

Aidan O’Connor

aidan@sportwhanganui.co.nz

022 098 2425

 

A Message from Sport Whanganui’s CEO

Across businesses, organisations, schools, clubs, and home life everyone has felt the disruptive impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Previously held assumptions have been swept away, leaving room for new patterns of relationships to develop. We have been reminded of the importance of our relationships, in the workplace, with friends and whānau. The team at Sport Whanganui want to reach out and share some collective wisdom around ways to stay connected and well. In the mahi we support, sport, active recreation, play; and programmes we deliver, Green Prescription, Fit for Surgery, 9 to 5 Thrive and Hauora ki te Mahi, the common thread is wellbeing, and the most important ingredient to achieving our goals is our connection to others.

The Sport Whanganui team have put together a collection of ideas and tips, and links to other organisations. Much of this wisdom remains beyond the Covid-19 pandemic. We hope you find something that works for you.

Noho haumaru

Danny Jonas
CE Sport Whanganui

 

STAYING CONNECTED

Whether we are working from home, taking care of whanau, or living alone but part of a bubble, it’s important we stay connected. If we are feeling alone there are many ways to connect with colleagues, friends and family: phone, Facetime, Messenger. The key is to reach out and if you know someone is on their own or doing it tough, make the time to connect.

 

CONNECTING TO OURSELVES

Before we can connect with others, we need to do our own check-in. Often, we wake up in the morning and the first thoughts are about what we must do for the day, work or home related. Our first action might be to reach for our phone to find out what’s being happening in the world. If you can, how about taking ten minutes to connect with ourselves, if not first thing in the morning, at sometime during the day.

Step outside and take in some fresh air.

Make a note of the five things you are grateful for this day.

Take a quick check in. How am I feeling today and what can I do take care of myself through the day?

 

PLAYING AND ACTIVATING

At home with the family can be overwhelming at times. Remember, it’s not about perfection. We’re in the middle of a pandemic. Set times throughout the day to do activities together to have fun and keep bodies and minds moving. The activities don’t have to be lengthy, take snack breaks, to make it feel less taxing, if that works for you.

Check out some ideas in the links below:

Fun stuff for at home – Sparklers At Home

Nga Taonga Tākaro games – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuOB3gZ3ooM

Activities to play at home with whole whanau – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLbHj3lYJmg

For parents and teachers –  Resources — Inside Out (theinsideout.org.uk)

Brain based adventures for kids and their parents – https://www.brainessentials.nz/

0 TO 5 year olds – Active movement activity guides for children 0-5 years | Sport New Zealand – Ihi Aotearoa

Chill time – Cosmic Kids Yoga

More Activity Ideas for Kids – Sport Whanganui

 

SPACES AND PLACES

Whanganui has an abundance of outdoor spaces to get active. Check out the Whanganui District Council website links below for up to date information on parks and reserves and cycling and shared pathways.

Cycling & Shared Pathways Whanganui District Council

Parks & Reserves Whanganui District Council

 

STAY AND PLAY – LET’S CONNECT

We want to connect. Share a photo on Facebook of your tamariki and whānau superskills to stay active through lockdown and be in to WIN!

  • Just post on Facebook and mention @sportwhanganui
  • The winner will be picked randomly on 13 September
  • The winner will be announced on Sport Whanganui’s Facebook page
  • Collection of prize will be at Level Two from Sport Whanganui

*Want some fresh play ideas? Check out some of the links above.

THE PRIZE IS A $100 MAINSTREET VOUCHER TO SPEND AT ANY MAINSTREET BUSINESS OF YOUR CHOICE!

Images may be used by Sport Whanganui for promotional purposes.

 

Fun Fact – Enjoy the outdoors! Exercise in our natural environment has been found to improve self-esteem and overall mood. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09640560601156466?journalCode=cjep20

 

EXERCISING

Whether exercising together or alone, there are a multitude of workouts and programmes online for all levels of fitness. Don’t be put off by thinking you need to do anything too strenuous or long. We each do fitness to our level. Exercise snacking is good too.

Home Workout and Fitness Tips: Exercising without the Gym – HelpGuide.org

https://www.rymanhealthcare.co.nz/lifestyle-and-wellness

If you live alone, reach out to your bubble to get active together. Being encouragers for each other to keep moving is important. Remember that a bit of gardening is a valid way to get active, with the additional benefit of making a more beautiful or edible environment for your home. 

Fun Fact – Any activity is better than none, studies have found that the health benefits of exercise begin with the first step you take. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2596007

snack-your-way-to-better-health-with-bite-sized-exercise-breaks

Wanganui Harrier Club Virtual Series  – Participate in the WHC Virtual Race Series by completing challenges. Each Challenge has a course video, a course description and a course map.

 

WORKING REMOTELY

  • You are not “working from home, you are at home during a crisis, trying to work”.
  • You will be kind to yourself and not judge how you are coping based on how you see others coping.
  • Your personal, mental, and emotional health is far more important than anything else right now.
  • You will be kind to others and not judge how they are coping based on how you are coping.
  • You should not try to compensate for lost productivity by working longer hours.
  • Your team’s success will not be measured the same way it was when things were normal.

 

CARING FOR OUR MENTAL HEALTH

Many of the actions we have covered nourish our body, mind and soul and the connections in our lives. A great approach to this holistic model of well-being is Te Whare Tapa Whā. If you are wanting to reach out, try these useful links:

Māori health models – Te Whare Tapa Whā | Ministry of Health NZ

Wellbeing tips | Mental Health Foundation

Helpful resources – Sir John Kirwan Foundation (jkfoundation.org.nz)

Need to talk? Call or text 1737 or visit www.allright.org.nz/campaigns/getting-through-together

 

FURTHER SUPPORT

MSD clients who need support can contact MSD by ringing 0800 559 009 or logging into MYMSD.

  • If you are not a client but struggling financially, then you can still call the MSD 0800 number for support.
  • If you need food the foodbank is providing contactless food parcels to those who need them. Please phone 06 345 2139 (select option 1) or email food@citymissionwhanganui.org.nz

 

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SPORT NEW ZEALAND

Stay connected to the big picture of sport and recreation from Sport New Zealand.

Sport New Zealand – Ihi Aotearoa (sportnz.org.nz)

KEY INFORMATION