Filipino News June 2022

22 

YEARS 

in print 

& 

online! 

Issue 160: FILIPINO-KIWI HERO AWARDS 

Three Editions : Filipino News NZ I Pinoy NZ Life I Filipino Kiwi 

Print. Web. Tablet. Mobile. FB. YouTube. 

Pick up a 

F R E E 

copy or 

read 

online. 

www.filipinonews.nz, www.pinoynzlife.nz, www.filipino.kiwi | E: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | M: 027 495 8477 | Facebook: www.filipinonews.nz 

COMMUNITY 

SPIRIT OF OUR 

PINOY 

CHEF OF 

THE YEAR 

pg 10 

‘I have a good 

heart for people; 

receiving thanks is 

payment enough.’ 

pg 07 

Leah Baterbonia 

Filipino-Kiwi 

Hero of 

the Year 

"Give yourselves and your whanau a 

fighting chance. Vaccines are within 

our reach. Give our healthcare system 

a fighting chance to deal with COVID by getting as many eligible 

family members as possible vaccinated.” - Dr Lira Lecias. 

Dr Lira is one of 12 Filipino-Kiwi Heroes being honoured on 25 June 

2022 at the Te Pai Centre in Auckland. www.filipinoheroes.nz 

JETHS LACSON 

Business Achiever 

MIA MARAMARA 

Film Director 

MIKEE SANTOS 

Migrant Advocate 

MIGUEL MANAIG 

Youth Achiever 

pg 17 

Dr Lira 

Lecias 

Health 

Professional 

Auckland. 

RADEN CHAVEZ 

Civic Engagement 

Given in 

recognition 

of supreme 

excellence 

in their 

particular 

fields ... 

25 JUNE 2022, Auckland 

Igorotak NZ 

All Filipinos have a 

voice that deserves to be 

heard and amplified. 

Particularly the next 

generation of Filipinos, 

who are filled with 

optimism and drive to 

make a change. 

(photo: Nina Santos) 

pg 05 

pg 5 

pg 9 

New generation 

changemakers

02 | ISSUE 160 | HERO AWARDS 2022 | FILIPINO NEWS NZ : www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | Mobile : 027 495 8477

ISSUE 160 FILIPINO-KIWI HERO AWARDS | www.filipinoheroes.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.filipinonews.nz | 03 BUHAY 

www.filipinoheroes.nz : Over a 120 Filipino Kiwi Heroes have been recognised over the years by Filipino News NZ. 

NZ 

photo: Aisha 

Ronquillo 

Every 

six years in Philippine 

embassies around 

the world a new ambassador 

routinely replaces the 

incumbent who is stationed 

there. In April 2016 the 

Department of Foreign 

Affairs in Manila 

announced that a seasoned 

career diplomat who had an 

illustrious career serving in 

the UN was being posted to 

New Zealand. 

The high-power appointee 

was Jesus “Gary” 

Domingo, who has been 

with the DFA for over 32 

years and was decorated by 

the President of the 

Philippines for his role in 

coordinating international 

humanitarian assistance for 

Super Typhoon Yolanda in 

2013, promoting disaster 

risk reduction and management 

cooperation and 

directing Philippine UN 

Peace-keeping deployments. 

To get an 

inkling of the 

man who was to 

reshape the traditional 

role of 

an ambassador, 

here is an endorsement 

from 

his friend, Gerardo 

'Gerry' V. Eusebio, a 

Lecturer of Politics at De La 

Salle University. 

“I have known Gary for 

more than 20 years. He was 

a student then at the 

University of the Philippines. 

Even as a student 

Gary was keen on his grasp 

of international and national 

affairs. His sense of history 

was likewise exceptional. 

“When I left QC to transfer 

elsewhere, I heard that 

Gary topped the Foreign 

Service Officers Exam and I 

was not even surprised. 

Later on, I heard that he was 

posted in New York as consul 

and then to Saudi Arabia 

where he worked harder, 

ensuring the welfare of our 

OFWs. 

“We finally met in the 

early years of the 21st century 

when he was the director 

of UNIO at the home 

office, a high position considering 

his age. 

“To sum up, let me just 

say that we are lucky to 

have a public servant as 

patriotic, pragmatic and 

'out-of-the-box' as him, to 

say the least.” 

So says Fil-NZ podcaster 

Mimi Rojo Laurilla: 

“Amba Gary Domingo is a 

very down-to-earth individual 

in his style of leadership. 

He knows how to get 

along with different types of 

people”. 

According to community 

leaders we polled, Amba 

Gary will be remembered as 

an 'Ambassador ng masa’ 

- a people’s ambassador. He 

is not perceived as a pen 

pusher stuck to a desk in the 

Embassy, because he has 

endeavoured to travel the 

length and breadth of New 

Zealand periodically to 

meet as many Filipinos as 

he was able to. 

Sadly, all too soon 

Ambassador Gary is leaving 

his post in New Zealand as 

his term of office comes to 

an end on June 30th, 2022. 

During his tenure, 'Amba 

Gary' (as he is affectionately 

called) transcended his 

fortitude with multilateral 

relations and humanitarian 

services through various 

proactive programs championing 

migrant rights and 

welfare. 

When asked by Mel 

Libre, the editor of the 

BAYANIZ blog page, as to 

what he counted as his most 

important accomplishments, 

he listed the following: 

a) Opening a Philippine 

Overseas Labour Office 

(POLO) in Wellington 

b) Establishing the Volunteer 

Ambassador Program 

(VAMBA) – a framework 

for empowering overseas 

Filipinos in NZ 

c) Establishing Youth 

Ambassador (YAMBA) 

programs in numerous NZ 

Colleges with Philippine 

High School Partners 

d) Managing the COVID- 

19 crisis – assisting 

Filipinos in need and running 

repatriation flights 

e) Combating exploitative 

immigration advisers and 

education agents 

As a diplomat at the time 

when global statecraft was 

challenged by a health crisis, 

Amba Gary arduously 

mobilized programs to help 

our kababayans endure 

‘Out-of-the-box’ Ambassador: 

The Champion of the Masses 

By Mel Fernandez & 

Queenie Lee Tanjay 

financial and social challenges. 

He regularly engages 

through social media and 

online platforms, making 

sure that every need is 

always seen to, from health 

to labour, immigration and 

repatriation concerns. 

As a staunch advocate of 

migrant rights himself, 

Amba Gary is remembered 

for his clamour to the NZ 

government to delve into 

the exploitation of Filipino 

students aspiring to a better 

life here. Amba Gary 

pushed for stringent codes 

of practice to be adhered to 

by agencies and institutions 

in order for international 

students to be “wellinformed, 

safe, and properly 

cared for”. 

Aligned to this is his 

assignment as a 'White 

Ribbon NZ' Ambassador 

in 2018 under the campaign’s 

aim to end Violence 

Against Women (VAW) and 

to include men in the narrative 

of promoting healthier 

relationships. 

His parting words, as 

told to BAYANIZ, were: 

“It’s been a great honour 

to serve the Filipino community 

in NZ – I’ve been 

blessed with the gift of your 

friendship – and I will continue 

to maintain our relations 

with the Philippines.” 

The persona he built from 

his fervour for Filipino culture 

and public service 

while also being pragmatic 

is truly worth emanating for 

the next generations. All of 

his contributions give him 

the rightful regard to be 

called 'Ambassador of the 

Masses', capping a decorated 

career here in New 

Zealand. 

Whoever will take over 

his position has big shoes to 

fill, notes BAYANIZ. We 

concur as he was an out of 

the box Ambassador; he is 

one of a kind.

BUHAY 

NZ 

04 ISSUE 160 MAGANDANG BALITA | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.pinoynzlife.nz | MOB: 027 495 8477 

www.filipinonews.nz : North Island Edition - 22nd Anniversary | www.pinoynzlife.nz : South Island Edition. Print and Online! 

By QUEENIE LEE 

TANJAY 

ROTORUA - If you’ve 

acquainted yourself with 

young Miguel Manaig in 

one of the community 

hubs in Rotorua, you’d be 

surprised to know that 

this young gentleman has 

only moved to New 

Zealand two years ago. 

With several accolades 

now under his name in the 

academic and community 

engagements, this trailblazer 

is on his way to 

amplify youth and community 

empowerment. 

Miguel, now in transition 

to university, arrived 

with his family in 2020 

just two weeks before the 

lockdown was initiated to 

arrest COVID transmissions. 

For the whole family it 

was a dream come true; 

finally stepping on the 

‘promised land’ after 

months of planning and 

praying. Regarding himself 

as fortunate for the 

opportunity, Miguel perseveres 

with excelling in 

his academic and community 

endeavours to gradually 

build the life he envisioned 

for his family. 

With only 24 months in 

New Zealand, one could 

call it premature to say 

tell that Miguel has found 

his niche here in his newfound 

home. But glamorous 

as it may sound, his 

journey of becoming was 

not a straight-line path. 

Prior to moving to New 

Zealand Miguel experienced 

his share of lows 

and stabs to his selfesteem 

being, being 

dumbfounded by the 

immense expectations of 

being an achiever. 

“Some things didn’t 

turn out well in the 

process. From being a 

performer I suddenly 

shied away from the limelight 

and just focused on 

other things. Suddenly I 

feared public speaking.” 

But waiting for his time 

to shine again proved to 

be transforming as it 

turned out. It was then 

that he found a greater 

sense of purpose through 

community service. 

Miguel was able to tap 

into his confidence and 

innate leadership skills 

again by leading the campus 

ministry in his school 

in Calamba. “God has reinstilled 

my passion for 

public speaking through 

the ministry. 

It was a privilege of to 

help our church win more 

souls by ‘Honoring God 

and Making Disciples’. 

What started as sharing 

with a small group of 4-5 

students led to 70-80 

attendees weekly,” he 

recalled. 

Moving to New Zealand, 

he brought with him 

all the learning and inspiration 

he reaped from the 

experience serving as the 

guiding light of his pathway. 

“My desire has 

always been to organize 

campus ministries. 

‘Change the campus, 

change the World’ is a 

principle that has been 

instilled in me by our local 

church in the Philippines. 

I believe that this is my 

calling, which will never 

change no matter where I 

may be.” 

As it turned out, this 

passion was also the key 

Miguel Manaig has been nominated to receive the 

6th Filipino-Kiwi Hero Awards – YOUTH 

ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2022. 

to achieving milestones in 

his career. Miguel has 

recently made headlines 

representing the Rotorua 

Boys High School in the 

Race Unity Speech, not to 

mention being the only 

Filipino in the bunch. 

“This passion gives me 

an opportunity to voice 

my opinions and ideas 

about serious issues in 

our society such as 

Racism. It serves as a 

platform for me to influence 

others and hopefully 

to remind them of the 

values that may have 

been forgotten while 

growing up. Such as 

compassion, kindness 

and empathy reflected in 

the story of the Good 

Samaritan, reminding us 

to be good to our neighbors.” 

Since then Miguel 

shows no signs of stopping 

excelling in this 

field after participating 

in another speech contest 

and being invited as a 

guest speaker to a 

Rotary Club meeting. 

This endeavour, he 

said, has also paved the 

way for his involvement 

with important community 

events, such as the 

Filipino Multicultural 

Lunch, the multicultural 

volleyball event and the 

local Hui in coordination 

with the Rotorua Multi- 

How to excel in studies 

& community service 

MIGUEL MANAIG: Excelling in his academic and community 

endeavours. (above) Miguel Macaraig was invited to be a guest 

speaker in a Rotary Club meeting. 

cultural Council. 

In the realm of academics, 

Miguel also bagged 

several leadership awards 

and successive NCEA 

endorsements with Excellence 

honours to wrap up 

his decorated high school 

life. With these he has 

become one of the faces of 

the youth in the community 

and among the young 

Filpinos worth emulating. 

Looking back on all of 

these milestones, Miguel 

does not forget to 

acknowledge the people 

pushing him to do great 

things, primarily his 

tutor and his family. 

“First of all, I would not 

be where I am now if it 

were not for their unwavering 

support and guidance. 

The role of parent is 

very important to a child, 

because they have the 

most influence on 

him/her. And for me, 

knowing that they always 

have my back, it boosts 

my confidence to stand up 

and speak out no matter 

how huge the crowd is.” 

Moving forward, Miguel 

seeks to fuel his passion 

by continually engaging 

with the community 

and “sharing the messages 

worth sharing”. 

“I believe that I can 

influence others to take 

action, particularly my 

fellow students. In so 

doing, I believe, I am able 

to contribute in the upliftment 

of our youth,” he 

ended. 

Recognition for Supreme Excellence 

Filipino of the Year • Frontline Heroes • Community Heroes 

Business Excellence • Sporting Achievers • Creative Arts 

Music Awards • Media Awards • Chef of the Year 

Submit nominations to: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz

ISSUE 160 FILIPINO-KIWI HERO AWARDS | www.filipinoheroes.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.pinoynzlife.nz Facebook: Pinoy NZ Life 05 


BUHAY 

NZ 

By Noel Bautista 

TIMARU - Envisioned 

in 2014, the gem of an 

idea came from Filipino 

Migrant News, has taken 

off with a hiss and a bang 

and has paid itself forward 

with continuous 

excellence ever since. 

Migrant communities 

have always been overachievers 

in Aotearoa, 

owing to the need for 

migrants to know, adapt 

to and conquer their 

transplanted environments. 

The Filipino community 

is no different, having 

outdone itself in terms of 

contributing to the New 

Zealand economy and in 

Why the need for the 

Filipino-Kiwi Hero Awards? 

‘To reward, highlight and inspire 

excellence in the Filipino community 

in New Zealand.’ 

serving fellow Kiwis season 

after season, year 

after year. 

But, with no apologies 

for subjectivity and bias, 

Filipinos do it with love, 

dedication and gratitude. 

Pinoys love what they 

do and love their hosts 

and fellow migrants, 

manifesting it in their 

daily deeds. 

Having dedicated themselves 

to their second 

home, Pinoys likewise 

dedicate themselves to 

their jobs and communities. 

Just as importantly, 

Pinoys show how grateful 

they are to be adopted 

members of the New 

Zealand community by 

giving the latter their 

fullest measures of effort, 

respect and cooperation. 

These are the stories the 

Filipino-Kiwi Hero 

Awards look for and retell 

in the most meaningful 

way possible, if only 

because with all the negativity 

in the world, everything 

positive must be 

highlighted, but also 

because telling others 

about their kabayan 

encourages other Filipinos 

to do similarly. 

The selections this year 

would stand out in any 

other year, but the 

urgency and singularity 

of the Covid pandemic 

has made the awardees 

achievements mean even 

more. 

The selflessness, improvisation 

and willingness to 

go the extra mile of many 

awardees was caused by 

the nature of the pandemic 

and many of the 

awardees proved equal to 

the task. 

In other cases, the 

awardees exceeded at 

producing their creative 

outputs to gain notice in 

their chosen fields, 

whether it be in the arts 

or in sports. 

In any other year these 

awardees by virtue of 

work output, dedication 

and excellence would be 

impressive choices. For 

excellence in the year of 

the virus, the achievements 

stand the tallest. 

Mabuhay to this year’s 

Filipino–Kiwi Hero 

Awardees! 

(left to right) 

Mikee Santos 

Miguel Manaig 

Nina Santos 

Lira Lecias 

Mia Maramara 


Nina Santos, 

Community 

Advocate & 

Women’s 

Rights 

Champion 

Filipina Leads the 

Next Generation 

of Changemakers 

in Aotearoa 

Long gone are the days 

when the youth were 

dubbed as naïve and entitled 

and women were 

depicted as feeble and shy. 

Today’s age proves how 

young women have 

stepped out of the background, 

obtaining more 

representation as informed 

and empowered 

individuals. 

By Queenie Lee Tanjay, Feature writer 

One who leads 

the pack of young 

Filipina trailblazers 

in NZ is Nina 

Gabriella Santos, 

recently appointed 

as the Aspiring 

Director to the 

Board of The 

National Council of 

Women New Zealand 

- Te 

Kaunihera Wahine 

o Aotearoa. 

Nina, 23, is a 

proud advocate of 

ethnic communities, 

migrant rights, 

digital literacy and 

gender equality. 

Despite her 

young age, she has 

forged a clear pathway in 

the field of public service 

creating social impact 

through various projects. 

“My multi-sector professional 

experience spans 

legal, digital communications 

& social media, 

research, project/campaign 

management and 

governance. 

“My meandering career 

path reflects my broad 

range of interests and 

skills and is also a testament 

to my resourcefulness 

and grit.” 

Her outstanding reputation 

can be ascribed to 

her successful collaborations 

with numerous government 

and private 

organizations. 

Nina has excelled in her 

role in the recent “Unite 

against Covid-19” campaign 

of the Department 

of the Prime Minister and 

Cabinet and as the digital 

advisor at the Ministry 

for the Environment. 

Her role as the campaign 

delivery manager 

for Mind the Gap NZ, an 

integrated effort of NZ to 

close ethnic and gender 

gaps, is one of her prime 

focuses currently. 

“This lobbies new pay 

gap transparency legislation 

to the government to 

close the gender and ethnic 

pay gaps. There are 

significant gaps between 

white people and migrant 

workers, too, so there’s 

lots of work to be done in 

this area,” she elaborated. 

Back in 2019 her contributions 

were distinguished 

by the Asia New 

Zealand Foundation’s '25 

under 25 to watch', celebrating 

young women in 

their various roles as 

“trailblazers and future 

leaders in their fields; 

raising their voices, challenging 

the status quo and 

fighting for a fairer 

Aotearoa New Zealand”. 

Nina is the epitome of 

the young individuals who 

are rising to society’s 

evolving needs and expectations 

today. She manages 

to juggle all these 

bigwig roles while also 

finishing her degree at the 

University of Auckland. 

Nina is in her final year of 

Law (Honours) and Arts 

(Politics & International 

Relations and Sociology) 

and tackles the migrant 

pay gap in her Honours 

dissertation. 

For her, the representation 

of young Filipinos in 

leadership and government 

space matters. 

“All Filipinos have a 

voice that deserves to be 

heard and amplified. 

Particularly the next generation 

of Filipinos, who 

are filled with optimism 

and drive to make a 

change. 

Official Filipino-Kiwi 

Heroes website: www. 

filipinoheroes.nz

BUHAY 

NZ 

06 ISSUE 160 6TH HERO AWARDS | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.pinoynzlife.nz | MOB: 027 495 8477 

www.filipinonews.nz : North Island Edition - 22nd Anniversary | www.pinoynzlife.nz : South Island Edition. Print and Online!

ISSUE 160 FILIPINO-KIWI HERO AWARDS | www.filipinoheroes.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.filipinonews.nz | 07 BUHAY 


NZ 

“I have a good heart for people; 

receiving thanks is payment enough.” 

By Queenie Lee Tanjay 

HAWKES BAY - 

Evident from her immersive 

kawanggawa works 

in the Philippines and 

New Zealand through the 

years, Leah Baterbonia is 

undeniably a good role 

model for community 

leadership. For her the 

passion to help is second 

nature and she finds life 

more purposeful in the 

service of others. 

Tracing her long history 

of contributions, Leah 

began nurturing her passion 

through her engagements 

with UPLB Social 

Forestry programs, Antique 

Upland Development, 

Organizing Irrigators/Farmers 

and Save 

the Children. 

These works are 

appended to her Bachelor’s 

in Agriculture and 

Master’s in Management, 

majoring in Rural 

Development at the 

University of the Philippines 

in the Visayas. “I 

mostly dealt with women, 

adolescents, fisherfolk 

and farmers. 

“From there I saw the 

differences of people who 

were underprivileged and 

unfortunate, people who 

had less access to 

resources and also those 

who were deprived of 

opportunities,” she reckoned. 

Now based in New 

Zealand since 2007, she 

has moved on board projects 

with impacts especially 

targeted to 

migrants. 

Gaining a postgraduate 

Leah Baterbonia with Ambassador Gary 

Domingo. She is currently handling hefty 

roles in a wide range of VAMBA projects. 

diploma in International 

Development from Massey 

University, Leah is 

now handling hefty roles 

in her VAMBA project as 

an environmental advocate, 

Filipino Language & 

Culture Class facilitator, 

Multicultural Association 

board member, radio 

announcer for Philippine 

Radio and a Justice of the 

Peace. 

“I love the community 

works I have in Hawkes 

Bay. I enjoy having the 

autonomy to design my 

project proposals a lot, 

supporting OFWs who 

are in need of information 

and guidance. 

“I see to it that when I 

go out of the house to do 

community 

work, that I 

have a clear 

goal on 

what I want 

to achieve 

at the end of 

the day. 

All of the 

above are 

aligned on 

my vision to 

create a 

tangible 

impact on 

other people’s 

lives.” 

T h e 

biggest project 

in her 

stash is the Angkan 

Diplomacy, a VAMBA 

project which aims to 

reconnect networks of 

families and kin through 

Leah Baterbonia is a Board Member 

of the Multicultural Association. 

the sharing of their 

whereabouts. 

“You can choose 

whether it’s on your 

maternal or paternal side. 

And from there you can 

talk all about good things, 

which include how to 

improve your economic 

condition, family relationships 

and views about the 

world and responsibilities 

and how each person can 

contribute for a better 

world.” 

The project rolled out 

with a gathering of a 

small group of OFWs and 

tackles the hardships and 

struggles as migrants. 

Leah Baterbonia from the Hawkes Bay 

has been nominated for the Filipino-Kiwi 

Community Leader of the Year 2022 

Award. www.filipinoheroes.nz 

Organised by Filipino News NZ. 

Meanwhile, as a volunteer 

in a multicultural 

association Leah touts 

national pride as she 

spearheads a Filipino language 

and culture 

class for 

students and 

interested individuals 

in the 

community. 

This passion 

project runs 

parallel with 

her radio hosting 

engagement, 

'Radio 

Kidnappers', 

which largely 

advocates for 

racial inclusion 

in the country 

and delves into 

cultural and other 

contemporary 

issues at hand. 

She also pioneered 

the ‘Asians 

in the Bay’ 

Awards in 2012 to 

highlight success 

stories and the 

contributions of 

migrants in different 

fields. 

Awards include 

Best Asian Practicing 

Professional, 

Best Asian Entrepreneurs 

and Best 

Asian Community 

(Group). 

All of these underline 

her larger vision to facilitate 

services for ethnic 

communities and to integrate 

Filipino culture 

with others, which she 

considers vital. 

“I strongly believe in 

my heart that when I talk 

about Philippine history, 

culture and language that 

this can diminish Filipinos 

being misunderstood 

at work or this can 

help other cultures better 

understand Filipinos.” 

She also currently collaborates 

with local councils 

regarding the rehabilitation 

and conservation 

of the environment. Leah 

is an exemplar of a multihyphenate 

woman who 

champions excellence 

both in her professional 

career in health and in 

her visionary work for the 

community. 

“As a woman I am truly 

inspired by Filipino 

women who can balance 

their career, domestic role 

and being a mother. 

“I am inspired by the late Former 

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago; 

she was very extraordinary,” 

says Leah Baterbonia. 

I am inspired by the 

late Former Senator 

Miriam Defensor- 

Santiago; she was very 

extraordinary, with 

strong principles as a 

public servant in the 

Philippines who truly 

brought goodness into the 

justice system.” 

She also confided that 

the innate kindness of 

migrants continuously 

fuels her fire to contribute 

more. 

“I believe that every 

person has a role and mission 

in the world. For me, 

I take part in God’s calling. 

I believe that part of 

who I am comes from my 

ancestors and influences 

from people whom I 

admired - and that part is 

to be a negotiator, a confidante, 

an advocate and a 

person who is truly dedicated 

to creating those 

synergies.” 

Indeed, a good heart 

worth emulating. 

2022 

The Filipino-Kiwi Hero 

Awards is organised exclusively 

by Filipino News 

NZ and Pinoy NZ Life. 

For more information and 

sponsorship enquries 

please contact us at: 

filipinonews@xtra.co.nz 

mob: 027 495 8477 

History of the Filipino- 

Kiwi Hero Awards. 

The inspiration for the 

Filipino-Kiwi Heroes hall of 

fame comes from a similar 

honours roll in the Philippines 

conferred by the Philippine 

Inquirer Newspaper. 

For a more detailed list of 

award winners over the years 

please visit the official website: 

www.filipinoheroes.nz 

We welcome nominations for 

the next Filipino-Kiwi Hero 

Awards. email: filipinonews 

@xtra.co.nz 

Filipino-Kiwi Hero of 

the Year – GP Lira 

Lecias, Health 

Professional, Auckland 

Youth Achievement 

Award - Miguel Manaig, 

Rotorua 

Civic Engagement 

Award – Raden Chavez, 

Auckland 

Community Advocate & 

Women's Rights 

Champion – Nina 

Santos, Auckland 

Migrant Advocate – 

Mikee Santos, Migrante 

Aotearoa, Auckland 

Business Achiever – 

Jeths Lacson, Hamilton 

Fashion Designer of the 

Year - Frances Matirez, 

Auckland 

Community Group of 

the Year – Igorotak NZ, 

Palmerston North 

Community Leader of 

the Year – Leah 

Baterbonia, Hawkes Bay 

Film Director of the 

Year – Mia Maramara, 

Auckland 

Outstanding 

Choreographer – Gina 

Ante Reid, Wellington 

Pinoy Chef of the Year – 

Romelyn Fernandez 

Garde, Professional Chef, 

Rotorua 

Filipino-Kiwi Music 

Award - Angela Tin, 

Auckland 

Inspirational Woman of 

the Year - Clem Jones, 

Hastings

ISSUE 160 FILIPINO-KIWI HERO AWARDS | www.filipinoheroes.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.filipinonews.nz | 09 


BUHAY 

NZ 

Igorot group goes the extra mile 

Igorotak NZ helps not 

only its members, but also 

people beyond Aotearoa. 

Ni Celso Roger 

Baldo 

PALMERSTON 

NORTH - “Igorotak NZ 

aims to unite Filipino 

Igorots in New Zealand 

and to give them an opportunity 

to promote cultural 

awareness and build 

stronger relationships 

through various programs 

and events," says Mendi 

Kipaan Julian, President 

of Igorotak NZ. 

The group, based in 

Palmerston North, was 

formalised after a gathering 

on December 27, 2017. 

Since then it has been making 

a name for itself in the 

community and helping 

not only its members but 

also people beyond Aotearoa. 

They now have 400 registered 

members from all 

over Aotearoa. "As membership 

and activities are 

growing rapidly there’s a 

need for better coordination,” 

admits Julian. “We 

have registered our group 

with the Philippine 

Embassy to give us legitimate 

recognition and to 

facilitate communication." 

The group fundraises for 

its charity work, does community 

service by organising 

bingo events and raffle 

draws and also receives 

voluntary donations 

from their 

members. 

Recently they 

geared up to 

raise money to 

help people in 

the Philippines 

affected by 

T y p h o o n 

Maring, particularly 

in Talibon, 

Bohol. 

For the past 

four years 

financial assistance 

has been 

given to families 

affected by 

landslides, particularly 

in Natonin Mt. 

Prov, Bakun, Bokod 

Itogon, Benguet, Ambiong 

and Mirador Hills in 

Baguio City. 

The group also helped 

people affected by Typhoons 

Ulysses and Odette 

in Talisay, Cebu. 

At the height of the 

Covid-19 pandemic financial 

assistance was provided 

to the local government 

units of Bakun, Hungduan 

and Kabayan. 

In total, about 358, 

690.43 pesos and NZ 

$6,996.00 have been raised 

for the group’s charity and 

for communities here and 

overseas. 

"The pandemic has 

proved to be a challenging 

time for us," says Frailan 

Datic, a registered nurse 

by profession and the secretary 

of 

Igorotak NZ. 

“Predictably 

there has been 

hardship for 

some of our 

members, but 

positive things 

have also arisen. 

It has 

brought us 

closer and 

enabled us to 

respond to the 

needs of our 

members better. 

“We helped 

not only our 

members, but 

The group has provided financial assistance to families affected by landslides in parts of the 

Philippines and Typhoons Ulysses and Odette in Talisay, Cebu. 

A Post Arrival Orientation Seminar in coordination with POLO Wellington. 

Performing at the Manawatu Multicultural Council’s - Festival of Cultures 

Igorotak NZ has been nominated the 

Filipino-Kiwi Community Group of the 

Year 2022. www.filipinoheroes.nz 


also some of our fellow 

kababayans during their 

self-isolation, through the 

delivery of food parcels 

and Rapid Antigen Test 

kits.” 

The group also provided 

monetary assistance to 

people who were made 

redundant from work and 

students who 

were in dire 

straits. 

On December 

10- 

11, 2022, the 

group organized 

a Post 

Arrival 

Orientation 

Seminar in 

coordination 

with staff 

from the 

Philippine 

Overseas Labour 

office 

based in 

Wellington. 

The orientation 

seminar, 

facilitated 

by Labour 

The Igorots, who come from the Cordillera region of the 

Philippines, are very proud of their roots. 

Attache Angel Borja Jr., 

reached Igorot communities 

from across Wanganui 

to the New Plymouth area. 

The Philippine Overseas 

Labour Office (POLO) 

provides all Filipino workers 

with assistance on 

employment matters, thus 

ensuring that Filipino 

workers are not exploited 

or discriminated against. 

Among the attendees 

were beekeepers, dairy 

farmers, builders and 

other tradies holding work 

Visas. 

To promote cultural 

awareness the group has 

participated in Christmas 

Parades, a World on Stage 

presentation and cultural 

shows, not only in Palmerston 

North, but in other 

towns like Levin, Hunterville 

and Wanganui. 

The group even won second 

place at a street dance 

parade in the Taranaki 

Multi-ethnic Extravaganza 

held in March 2020. 

Lea Dangli Buccahan is 

a respected member and 

elder of the group. She said 

that "even though we are 

living overseas, the culture 

of bayanihan is alive and 

well amongst the Igorots. 

“It's so important to preserve 

our culture and 

showcase our ethnic 

dances and attire wherever 

we go as we want our 

younger generation to 

learn about our culture. 

‘Mabuhay ang Igorotak 

NZ’.” 

Upcoming events: 

Cordillera Day on July 9 

2022, in Palmerston North 

and the ‘Panagsasabat’ 

gathering for members 

and their families, to be 

held next year in New 

Plymouth.

BUHAY 

NZ 



Filipino chef 

serves 

kindness 

for elders in 

Rotorua 

By Queenie Lee 

P. Tanjay 

ROTORUA - Not all 

heroes wear capes. Some of 

them just have hearts big 

enough to save the day for 

those in need. 

Take Romelyn Fernandez 

Garde, a professional 

Filipino chef, for example, 

who manifests her compassion 

through a series of community 

services. 

She is making this quarantine 

period count by mustering 

solutions that benefit the 

local community while 

maintaining a good worklife 

balance at the same time. 

Recently she initiated 

preparing batches of dishes 

for the elderly around 

Rotorua who are deemed 

more vulnerable to the virus. 

“I have been blessed to be 

surrounded by our local 

Filipino Kaumatua for years 

and it is my responsibility 

now to instil the same values 

about looking after the people 

of the land, especially 

our elders, into others,” she 

said. 

On her own initiative she 

also volunteers to deliver 

essential food and hygiene 

needs to the elderly and 

monitors them from time to 

time to make sure that they 

do not feel alone. 

This drive resonates with 

her upbringing as a young 

migrant who flourished in a 

supportive community and 

looked forward to paying the 

favour back. 

“The people of the land 

are ideal memory-makers, 

especially the elders. 

Romelyn Fernandez Garde has been 

nominated for the Pinoy Chef of the 

Year Award for 2022. 



Grandparents have a unique 

connection to the land and 

wisdom to share. Now is the 

perfect time to look after 

them and nurture their wellbeing,” 

she beautifully 

pieced. 

Apart from this, Romelyn 

is also an active member of 

the Philippine Club of 

Rotorua Incorporated 

(PCRI), Rotorua Multicultural 

Council and Rotorua 

Club, to name a few. 

These engagements allow 

her to channel her food 

expertise and passion for the 

community to broader networks. 

Throughout her service, 

she has engaged not only 

with fellow Filipinos but 

also with local iwi and hapu 

around the Bay of Plenty as 

well. 

During this 

quarantine 

period she 

facilitates 

incorporating 

essential Filipino ingredients 

into food parcels and performs 

virtual cooking tutorials 

and food consultation 

with the aid of her affiliations. 

Within Romelyn the spirit 

of volunteerism is very 

much alive. 

In her words: “Volunteering 

to the local community, 

networking and meeting 

Romelyn Fernandez Garde 

(in the centre of the above 

photo) is an active member 

of various community 

groups in Rotorua. 

people from all walks of life 

gives me happiness, comfort, 

assurance and most 

importantly, social innovation.” 

Indeed, this Filipina is an 

inspiration for future generations. 

Even in unprecedented 

times, the call to think creatively 

and take personal 

actions for the community 

should be heeded.

SUPPORTED BY: 

PLATINUM SPONSORS: 

SPONSOR OF THE 

COMMUNITY GROUP 

OF THE YEAR 


GOLD 

SPONSORS 

SILVER SPONSORS 

Enrico’s Lechon

BUHAY 

NZ 



Filipino talent is 

put under the spotlight 

afresh with the 

first feature of a 

Tagalog original in 

an Aotearoa-produced 

series. 

‘Albularyo' touts 

Philippine folklore 

in TVNZ 2’s sixepisode 

sequence, 

'Beyond the Veil', 

showcasing indigenous 

storytelling 

from Maori, Pasifika, 

Chinese and 

Filipino cultures. 

The episode was 

written and directed 

by Filipina Mia 

Maramara, alongside 

Hweiling Ow 

and in collaboration 

with producer Morgan 

Leigh Stewart 

and NZ On Air and 

Te Mangai Paho for 

the co-funding. 

The story introduces the 

journey of estranged siblings, 

Gloria and Robert, 

after the death of their 

parents. 

“Gloria is a Filipino- 

Kiwi doctor in her 30s, an 

ate (sister) figure and a 

‘Albularyo’ was written and 

directed by Mia Maramara (above). 

Mia has been selected for the 

Emerging Women Filmmakers 

Incubator 2022. 

By Queenie Lee Tanjay 

strong female lead coming 

back home for the first 

time, while Robert, her 

younger brother, has 

already been integrated 

into New Zealand society 

while growing up,” Mia revealed. 

Mia Maramara has been nominated 

for the Filipino-Kiwi Film Director 

of the Year Award 2022. 



Filipino folklore 

debuts with a 

new spin in NZ 

Their story intertwines 

with the struggle 

of their grandmother, 

Lola Mim, 

the Albularyo (witch 

doctor), as she transitions 

into a new life 

away from home. 

“She is very strict, 

but she loves her 

family so much. 

Unfortunately, being 

in New Zealand is 

very hard on her and 

so she succumbs to 

turning into a manananggal 

(a corrupted 

witch),” Mia detailed 

further. 

The show is nostalgic 

and familiar to 

folklore fans and 

geeks, even to ordinary 

Filipinos who 

grew up 

w i t h 

superstitions, 

tales and 

myths. 

'Beyond the 

Veil' showcases 

indigenous 

storytelling from 

Maori, Pasifika, 

Chinese and 

Filipino cultures. 

The albularyo 

and manananggal 

are popular 

denizens in Philippine lore 

and supernatural narratives, 

dating from the pre- 

Hispanic era. 

An albularyo, witch-doctor 

or faith healer, is 

revered by some because of 

his specialty in 

herbs and his power 

to communicate 

with spirits. He is 

often portrayed as a 

hermit with a superfluous 

collection of 

potions and concoctions 

rendered for 

various sickness and 

prayed manifestations. 

A manananggal, 

on the other hand, is 

a hideous depiction 

of a vampire woman 

with a detached 

torso, feared by 

many during the 

night when it looks 

for its prey. 

The episode was 

produced by MHM 

productions, named 

after the three producing 

and directing 

bigwigs, and will 

run for 22 minutes 

on air. 

The cast includes 

Clarisse Uy, Marwin 

Silerio, Luciane 

Buchanan, Meg 

Sydenham, Lourdes 

Santos, Precious 

Joey and Raphael 

Perillo. 

Editor: ‘Albularyo’ 

can now be veiwed on TVNZ 

On Demand. 

022 063 5434 

info@bagsiclaw.co.nz 

www.bagsiclaw.co.nz

ISSUE 160 FILIPINO-KIWI HERO AWARDS | www.filipinoheroes.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.filipinonews.nz | 13 


BUHAY 

NZ 

By Mel Fernandez 

AUCKLAND - On 13th 

December 2008, Filipino 

News was invited to celebrate 

Alpha Phi Omega’s 

(APO) 83rd Anniversary 

and to witness the induction 

of officers for the 

fledgling Auckland chapter. 

This event was a milestone 

as fraternity members 

of Alpha Phi Omega 

(Phil.) Inc. who migrated 

to New Zealand have 

been spearheading the 

move to establish Auckland, 

Wellington and 

Christchurch chapters of 

the prestigious Alumni. 

Over the years the 

APO’s membership roll 

in New Zealand has 

swelled with the rising 

tide of immigration. As a 

committee member commented, 

APO Alumni had 

“nowhere to go but to 

move forward”. 

Alpha Phi Omega Auckland: 

16 years and still 

going strong ... 

“The first wave of APO 

members landed in New 

Zealand in the late 80s 

and early 90s, said Top 

Espinosa, the first 

President of the Auckland 

chapter. 

On 26th November 

2005 ‘Top’ Espinosa (Eta 

Kappa ’97), Tony Peralta 

(Delta Lambda ’78) and 

Rene Veneracion (Beta 

Kappa ’77) met for the 

first time and this historical 

meeting laid the foundations 

of the Auckland 

chapter. 

They were keen to 

“spread the news to the 

greater Filipino community 

that our beloved fraternity 

has started to congregate 

with the hope to 

reach out to more fraternity 

members in this 

country we now call our 

home”, said Top. 

“On the 17th of 

February 2008 there was 


an election of interim 

officers and the 

Alpha Phi Omega 

Auckland Alumni 

Association 

(APOANZAA) was 

launched,” said 

Top. 

Membership 

grew by leaps and 

bounds and on 11th 

December 2008 the 

Alumni’s constitution 

and bylaws 

were ratified by 

officers and members. 

This was a 

major step towards 

recognition from 


(Phil.) Inc. 

“Next the APO New 

Zealand Alumni Association 

was chartered on 

23rd January 2011 in 

Auckland and it was 

incorporated on 20th July 

2020,” updated Raden 

Chavez, APOANZAA 

6th Filipino-Kiwi 

Hero Awards 2022 

Raden Chavez 

Civic Engagement Award 

Over 150 Heroes have been 

honoured over the years. 

To nominate a worthy achiever 

for the 2023 Hero Awards 

please email details to: 


Carmelo Merced and 

Raden Chavez 

Past President, 2019- 

2021. “It currently has 67 

members.” 

Fast forward to 14 

February 2020, when we 

reported on APOANZAA 

Inc.’s Dinner and Dance 

Fundraiser in Auckland. 

“A key project of the 


Alumni Association 

Inc. in Auckland is 

supporting disadvantaged 

school 

children in the 

Philippines,” said 

Chavez. 

Celebratimg APO’s 96th International Founding Anniversary and 

the Induction of APOANZAA Officers for the year 2021-2023 

on 18th December 2021. 

“Ever since we 

were students in 

universities and 

colleges in the 

Philippines we have 

been involved in 

the ‘Adopt a 

School’ fund raising 

program,” said 

Chavez. 

“In 2020 we supported 

the Kapoc 

Elementary School in 

Davao de Oro and 

Cabaruan Elementary 

School in Pangasinan.” 

Another significant 

milestone for the group 

was to celebratimg 

APO’s 96th International 

Founding Anniversary 

and the Induction of 

APOANZAA Officers for 

the year 2021-2023 on 

18th December 2021, 

which was held at North 

Shore Masonic Centre in 

Albany. 

As the new Regional 

Director of the Administrative 

Region of the 

Pacific, 2021-2023, Raden 

Chavez, who oversees 8 

chapters in Australia and 

New Zealand, inducted 

the new officers of 

APOANZAA. 

B r o d 

Carmelo Merced 

is the 

incoming president 

of APOA- 

NZAA for the 

year 2021- 

2023. 

B A C K - 

GROUND: 

APO is an 

international 

community 

service fraternity 

and sorority 

founded at Lafayette 

College in Pennsylvania, 

USA, on 16th December 

1925. 

More than 400,000 

members have joined the 

Alumni since it was 

founded. 

APO (Phil.) Inc. was 

incorporated in 1950 and 

has set the standard for 

college campus-based volunteering 

in the Philippines. 

Members develop leadership 

skills, experience 

friendship on many levels 

and provide service to 

others.’ - source: 

www.apo.org. ph 

In conjunction with the 

Filipino Kiwi Hero Awards 2022 

To participate please text: 

027 495 8477

BUHAY 

NZ 



By Aisha Ronquillo 

Mikee Santos is a union 

representative and an individual 

who goes to great 

lengths to protect Pinoy 

builders. He refuses to be 

bound by the 9-5 routine in 

the office and often pushes 

the boundaries of advocacy 

by being out in the open, rescuing 

distressed migrants on 

the road and exposing himself 

to the hazards of this 

cause. He says that Pinoy 

migrants are happy to help 

build this country, but not at 

the expense of their dignity. 

AISHA: What is the root 

of the exploitation of Pinoy 

builders in New Zealand? 

MIKEE: When these 

Pinoy builders arrive here 

they are already in a vulnerable 

situation because they 

are indebted to agencies, 

loan sharks and banks; they 

are expected to pay off those 

loans. There is also a problem 

with the NZ labour market 

rate. Most of them will 

take low-paying jobs regardless 

of their circumstances 

and they are happy to settle 

for less rather than end up 

jobless. 

Pushing the 

boundaries 

of advocacy 

They are not familiar with 

NZ’s basic employment 

laws; they don’t know how 

to say No. They are also 

afraid to complain about 

abuse because some of them 

are tied to a single employer 

and this prevents them from 

complaining or speaking up 

against abuse. They all fear 

losing their jobs. 

AISHA: What was the 

worst case you ever encountered? 

MIKEE: There was this 

Pinoy builder who injured 

his lower back. He went to 

the doctor and was asked if 

he could work. He agreed to 

work from August 2017 to 

January 2018, but the pain 

got worse and it resulted in 

both of his legs becoming 

numb. He came into our 

office and I saw his photos 

Mikee Santos has been nominated 

for the Migrant Advocates Award. 



before the injury when he 

looked human, but after 

January 2018 he looked like 

a skeleton. He endured the 

pain and worked on. He was 

afraid to complain or inform 

his managers about his 

injury, because he was afraid 

that he might not get paid. 

He wasn’t aware of ACC. 

He just kept popping pain 

relievers. 

AISHA: How was this 

case resolved? 

MIKEE: We were able to 

contact ACC and we assisted 

him with his efforts to look 

for a new job. We also had a 

long conversation and introduced 

him to various social 

services that are available to 

workers. We gave him information 

regarding his basic 

employment rights here in 

New Zealand. 

AISHA: Do 

you think that 

the latest immigration 

policies are to 

the builders’ 

advantage? 

MIKEE: 

For the 

builders, it 

could be better. 

There are 

MIKEE SANTOS 

still builders right now who 

are currently on a 1-year 

work visa, but we are campaigning 

for a 3-year open 

work visa for them. I understand 

that the current policy 

of issuing a 3-year open 

work visa extends to students 

only. 

AISHA: What is your 

advice for those who want 

to work as builders in New 

Zealand? 

MIKEE: Before leaving 

the country they should do a 

reasonable amount of 

research about New 

Zealand. There should also 

be a post-arrival seminar for 

new migrants conducted by 

the Philippine Embassy to 

prevent the exploitation of 

builders and not just 

builders, but all migrants as 

a whole. 

Photo: 

Ayesha 

Ronquillo 

Most Pinoy builders come 

here without any knowledge 

of ACC, the health care system, 

basic employment 

laws, or how to obtain a NZ 

driver’s license. They have 

no idea of the cost of living. 

They are clueless regarding 

how to create a CV. They 

should also be taught how to 

understand contracts and 

how they shouldn’t be signing 

any document that prohibits 

them from transferring 

to other companies. All these 

aspects should be presented 

in a seminar a few months or 

weeks after arriving in the 

country, so they are better 

able to spot signs of 

exploitation. 


message for Filipinos who 

are in cahoots with 

exploitative employers? 

MIKEE: We are all Kiwis 

now. We should all be living 

the values of treating people 

fairly and equally. We 

should show compassion 

towards our fellow Pinoys 

who are new to this country. 

They should be ashamed of 

themselves if they are taking 

advantage of these builders. 


message to an exploited 

builder who is afraid to 

come out in the open? 

MIKEE: You are not in 

the Philippines anymore; 

know your rights and speak 

up. 

AISHA: In cases like 

these, why is it so important 

to make yourself 

heard? 

MIKEE: It’s important 

for builders, or for anyone 

for that matter, to be a member 

of a certain collective or 

group. Here in New Zealand 

it is actually illegal for an 

employer to discourage or 

prohibit employees from 

joining a union. See the 

Ministry of Business, 

Innovation and Employment 

website: www.mbie.govt.nz. 

I encourage builders to 

join unions, or if not, to join 

a support group that you feel 

can accommodate your concerns. 

Reach out to individuals 

that you know you can 

trust. Don’t let the abuse 

build up.

There’s excitement 

brewing in the richly 

diverse community that a 

North Shore pharmacy 

looks after, with overseas 

travel plans really starting 

to take off. 

Unichem Browns Bay 

has, since it first joined the 

city-wide vaccine roll-out 

in August last year, had the 

unique interests of its 

many ethnic groups top of 

mind. 

Supported by the Albany 

Vaccination Centre run by 

Waitemata District Health 

Board and Asian Health 

Services, the pharmacy 

held a series of special vaccination 

events for its 

Korean, Filipino, Myanmar 

and Chinese communities 

back in September. 

Hundreds took up the 

opportunities to get vaccinated 

with their first and 

later their second dose of 

the COVID-19 vaccine. To 

date, the pharmacy has 

ISSUE 160 COVID-19 VACCINE UPTAKE PROMOTION | www.covid19.govt.nz | Supported by Ministry for Ethnic Communities | 15 

www.covid19.govt.nz/languages-and-resources/translations/tagalog/travel/travelling-to-new zealand 

‘Joyful reunions with loved ones overseas’ 

successfully delivered 

more than 36,000 doses, 

the third highest vaccination 

rate of all pharmacies 

in Auckland. 

Pharmacist, and lead 

cheerleader for her community, 

Christina Shin, 

says the current Omicron 

outbreak has been tougher 

than expected but thankfully 

her wonderful team 

hadn’t been hit too badly. 

“We’ve been very lucky 

and only had one staff 

member who came down 

with COVID-19.” 

At the peak, she says 

they were very busy supporting 

isolating families 

with up to 10 deliveries of 

medicines per day. Now, 

she says, it’s around five or 

six a day. 

With case numbers 

dropping off, Ms Chin says 

many of her patients are 

embracing the now very 

real prospect of finally 

reuniting with their families 

overseas. 

Her team has been really 

busy carrying out predeparture 

testing for people. 

“People have 

waited a long 

time for 

this. Lots 

of people… 

f o r 

example 

our 

regular 

c u s - 

tomers, 

who are 

quite elderly, 

haven’t had a 

chance to see their grandchildren 

for two or three 

years who are in Australia 

and Fiji and elsewhere. 

“It’s great to hear that 

they can do it now.” 

Ms Chin too cannot wait 

for her own trip back 

home to Korea later this 

week. 

“I’m going for four 

weeks. I haven’t been back 

in about three years. 

“My grandparents are 

there and my mum is there 

at the moment. 

“I’m taking 

my little 

boy with 

m e … 

really 

looking 

f o r - 

ward to 

it!” 

B u t 

caring for 

her community 

is still a 

priority for Ms 

Shin, who’s now also 

focussing on increasing flu 

vaccination rates. 

There’s been good 

uptake so far with demand 

for the vaccine streaming 

in, she says. 

“We’re doing about 50 a 

day at the moment.” 

She says her elderly 

patients have been telling 

her they are worried about 

coming down with the flu 

and the potential for other 

outbreaks with the borders 

having re-opened. 

Ms Shin is also concerned 

about the flu 

impacting her team this 

winter in particular. She’s 

glad everyone is making 

getting that vaccine a priority. 

Flu vaccines are free for 

the following people; those 

aged 65 and over, Maori 

and Pacific aged 55 and 

over, pregnant people, 

those with underlying 

health issues, including 

asthma, diabetes and heart 

conditions, and children 

aged under 4 with preexisting 

illnesses. You can 

get your free flu vaccination 

from your GP or 

healthcare provider, with 

many pharmacies also 

offering it to people aged 

13 and over. 

When do I need to get tested? 

When do I need to get 

tested? 

• You only need to get tested 

if you have symptoms or 

you live with someone who 

has tested positive for 

COVID-19. 

• If you’re a close contact 

outside the household (e.g. 

from work), you should 

monitor yourself for symptoms. 

You don’t need to get 

tested or isolate unless you 

develop symptoms. 

Where do I get a rapid 

antigen test (RAT)? And 

how do I do a RAT? 

People who have symptoms 

of COVID-19 or live 

with someone who has tested 

positive for the virus can 

get RAT tests from either a 

nearby community testing 

centre, or order them online 

at https://requestrats. 

covid19.health.nz/ and then 

pick them up from a nearby 

collection site. 

If you’re not comfortable 

doing a RAT at home by 

yourself, you can get a 

supervised RAT from your 

general practice or urgent 

care clinic. You can contact 

your general practice to 

arrange this. 

There are currently 11 different 

brands of RAT tests 

available in New Zealand, so 

you will need to follow the 

instructions on the packet 

you receive. 

How do I RAT test my 

Dr Gary Wu, who is a 

vaccinating Auckland GP at 

The Doctors New Lynn has 

contributed to responding to 

the following questions, 

alongside the Northern 

Region Health Coordination 

Centre (NRHCC) which is 

running Auckland’s 

vaccination programme. 

young child? 

1. Take it easy and slow. 

Don’t rush. Explain the 

process to the child. 

2. Begin by blowing their 

nose – young children find it 

hard to blow their own nose. 

3. Rest their head on a 

chair with a headrest or pillow 

on a couch. For younger 

children, sit them on your 

lap with their head resting in 

your elbow fold. 

4. Aim down and back 

rather than up high to reduce 

pain and increase test accuracy. 

5. Afterwards, congratulate 

your child on a job well 

done. Older children will be 

able to graduate to doing it 

themselves. 

Note: RATs are not recommended 

for children under 2 

years old. 

How do I record my 

RAT test result? 

You will need to record 

your result at mycovid 

record.nz or call 0800 222 

478. 

Currently, only people 

above the age of 12 can 

report through My Covid 

Record, while parents and 

caregivers are asked to 

report young children's positive 

results by calling 0800 

222 478. 

If you get your RAT test 

done by your GP or at an 

urgent care clinic, they will 

record your result for you. 

It’s important to record your 

result so that the health team 

can assess whether you 

might need additional support. 

What if I don’t want to 

do a RAT at home? 

If you don’t feel comfortable 

doing a RAT by yourself 

at home, you can also 

contact your GP or nearest 

urgent care clinic to arrange 

a supervised RAT test 

instead. It’s best to call 

ahead rather than walk in. 

They will record the result 

for you. 

What do I do if I or 

someone in my household 

tests positive for COVID- 

19? 

• If someone in your 

household tests positive for 

COVID-19, the entire 

household will need to isolate 

at home. 

• Most people who get 

COVID-19 will be able to 

safely isolate and recover at 

home with help from friends 

and whanau. 

• If you start to feel worse, 

please stay at home and call 

your GP or Healthline on 

0800 358 5453. All GP and 

urgent care clinic appointments 

for COVID-19 are 

free. 

• If you or a family member 

becomes very unwell, 

like having difficulty breathing 

or chest pains, call 111 

immediately. The ambulance 

will be free. 

If you live by yourself, 

arrange for a family member 

or friend to call to check in 

on you each day. 

How can I best prepare 

my family/household for 

one or more of us to get 

COVID-19? 

• If it’s been at least three 

months since you had your 

second dose, consider getting 

your booster as soon as 

possible. Being vaccinated, 

including having your booster 

dose, is the most important 

thing you can do to help 

increase your protection 

from Omicron. 

• If you have children aged 

5 to 11-years-old, you can 

help keep them safe and protect 

your family by getting 

them immunised now 

against COVID-19. Just turn 

up at a drive-through vaccination 

centre or walk-in to 

get your vaccinations. 

• Make a plan to prepare 

for home isolation in case 

you or someone in your 

household has to isolate, this 

includes: 

• Think about who might 

be able to help with any caring 

if you’re not available – 

for example caring for elderly 

relatives. 

• Try to have extra food in 

the house. 

• Medical supplies – e.g. 

masks, paracetamol, ibuprofen, 

throat lozenges, nasal 

spray, cough medicine, ice 

pack, a thermometer, prescription 

medicine. 

• Cleaning supplies – e.g. 

disinfectant, bleach, rubbish 

bags. 

• Hygiene supplies – e.g. 

hand sanitiser, gloves, toilet 

paper, tampons or pads, nappies, 

tissues. 

• Things you enjoy doing 

– e.g. books, crosswords, 

games, devices, movies. 

• Reach out to others in the 

community to offer your 

support, particularly people 

who are elderly or living 

alone. You might be able to 

help out by dropping off groceries 

outside their door or 

calling them each to check 

in. 

For more on how to prepare, 

visit Unite against 

Covid19 - prepare and stay 

safe. 

Why is getting a booster 

so important with Omicron? 

If you are vaccinated and 

boosted you are likely to 

only have a mild illness and 

recover in a few days, and 

some people will have no 

symptoms at all. 

While two doses provide 

some degree of protection 

against severe disease from 

Omicron, a booster is likely 

to offer greater protection 

against transmitting 

COVID-19 to others and 

reduce the chance of more 

serious infections. It also 

means reducing hospitalisations 

and putting less pressure 

on our health system.

16 ISSUE 160 | COVID-19 VACCINE UPTAKE PROMOTION | www.covid19.govt.nz | Supported by Ministry for Ethnic Communities 


Lately, Mr Wee says, 

their focus has 

been on 

delivering booster 

doses and flu 

vaccinations. 

“We have been 

really busy. And 

also busy catching 

up with a backlog of 

people needing 

help, a lot of 

patients who have 

put off their health 

checks because of 

COVID-19. 

“We are also actively 

recruiting for new 

clinicians, trying to 

train new doctors, 

getting medical 

students in next 

month, as well as 

looking at overseas 

recruitment.” 

Mid-lockdown late last 

year, a young multi-lingual 

doctor working in rural 

south Auckland snapped 

up the chance to take over 

an east Auckland practice 

from two retiring GPs. 

Luke Wee, with his wife 

‘Taking over a 

new practice 

mid-lockdown 

both a crisis and 

opportunity’ 

and one-year-old baby in 

tow, started running 

Meadowbank Medical 

Centre in November. 

“It did seem a bit crazy 

at the time. A lot of people 

were trying to get out of 

working in the middle of 

the pandemic. A lot of people 

were burnt out and facing 

a lot of different stresses 

for their personal 

health. 

“I saw it as both a crisis 

and an opportunity.” 

Almost immediately, the 

practice opened up to 

walk-ins for testing, 

extending the invitation to 

non-enrolled patients, and 

in mid-January this year, 

started vaccinating. 

More recently, the centre 

has also joined a small 

number of sites across the 

FLU VACCINE 

You can get your free 

flu vaccination from 

your GP or healthcare 

provider, with many 

pharmacies also offering 

it to people aged 

13 and over. 

city in offering the 

Novavax vaccine. 

“We have found it 

rewarding to offer an 

alternative. I think there’s 

a sense of relief that there’s 

an alternative for those 

who are not keen on the 

Pfizer vaccine and there’s 

also a degree of openness 

to the vaccine that we 

haven’t seen previously. 

“People who had been 

waiting, people who had 

been previously sceptical, 

are now more open to the 

vaccine.” 

Mr Wee speaks English, 

Mandarin, Cantonese, 

Malay, French and Te reo 

Maori with varying fluency. 

Some of his staff are 

also bilingual. Serving his 

multicultural community 

is especially important to 

him. 

“I’m Asian by origin but 

it doesn’t limit me to my 

own community. I think as 

modern day clinicians, we 

really have to think hard 

about what’s our role in 

society. And I think one of 

our roles is a connector of 

people. 

“And we are quite privileged 

to cut across all sectors 

of society. The ability 

to communicate and speak 

the language of the people 

we are trying to serve 

makes our work more 

rewarding.” 

Mr Wee says a recent 

example of this springs to 

mind. 

“An Algerian family 

came in who only spoke 

Arabic and French, and 

were all unwell with 

COVID-19. 

“They couldn’t find any 

health services that were 

able to communicate well 

with them. 

“I was privileged to be 

able to speak to them and 

help.” 

Lately, Mr Wee says, 

their focus has been on 

delivering booster doses 

and flu vaccinations. 

“We have been really 

busy. And also busy catching 

up with a backlog of 

people needing help, a lot 

of patients who have put 

off their health checks 

because of COVID-19. 

“We are also actively 

recruiting for new clinicians, 

trying to train new 

doctors, getting medical 

students in next month, as 

well as looking at overseas 

recruitment.” 

Flu vaccines are free for 

the following people; those 

aged 65 and over, Maori 

and Pacific aged 55 and 

over, pregnant people, 

those with underlying 

health issues, including 

asthma, diabetes and heart 

conditions, and children 

aged under 4 with preexisting 

illnesses. 

AUCKLAND - New 

Zealand emerged from 

2021 with some of the best 

health outcomes in the 

world for the mangement 

of the Covid-19 pandemic 

according to overseas 

media reports. 

In Auckland for example 

hundreds of members 

of the Korean, Filipino 

and Chinese communities 

were vaccinated against 

COVID-19, thanks to the 

efforts of a North Shore 

pharmacy. 

Unichem Browns Bay, 

supported by Waitemata 

District Health Board’s 

Asian Health Services and 

the Albany Vaccination 

Centre, hosted a series of 

special clinics for each 

ethnic group. 


pharmacist Christina 

Shin said that the clinics 

were an overall success. 

“It’s fantastic to see 

these groups coming forward 

together to protect 

themselves, their families 

and their wider communities 

against COVID-19.” 

She said that the two 

weeks were busy, with 

around 210 members of 

Aisha Ronquillo’s exclusive 

photos of the vaccination drive for 

Filipinos at Browns Bay, Auckland 

RAMPING UP THE 

VACCINE ROLL OUT 

the Filipino community 

getting vaccinated. 209 

members of the Korean 

community and 60 people 

from the Chinese community 

were also vaccinated 

at the pharmacy. 


was one of 51 Auckland 

pharmacies participating 

in the vaccine rollout programme 

- 118 General 

Practitioners (GPs) were 

also involved. 

The Unichem Browns 

Bay vaccination clinic was 

open daily (from 9am) for 

anyone who wanted to 

book an appointment. 

More than 250 members 

of Auckland’s Indian 

community had their 

Covid-19 vaccinations 

done at the Gurudwara 

Sikh Temple in Takanini 

last year. 

The night clinic was 

organised by Unichem 

Pakuranga Pharmacy coowner 

Vicky Chan and 

supported by the 

Supreme Sikh Society of 

New Zealand. 

The event was the second 

to be held at the temple. 

Chan said holding vaccinations 

clinics at places 

like the Sikh Temple 

allowed people who don’t 

have English as a first language 

to access the vaccine 

in a place they can 

have information translated 

- and feel at ease. 

“Those who may have 

hesitated to get vaccinated 

elsewhere knew they 

would be comforatble 

here,” said Daljit Singh 

the spokesperson for the 

Sikh Society. 

The government’s 

Covid-19 website features 

heroes who are supporting 

their communities to 

stay safe, healthy and 

informed about Covid-19. 

Check it out at: www. 

covid19.govt.nz/iwi-andcommunities/supportyour-community/community-heroes 

Anyone who hasn’t yet 

received their second dose 

is being encouraged to 

book in and get it it done. 

Lots of appointments 

are available at centres 

across the city and people 

can make a booking 

online or visit a walk-in 

vaccination site. 

Editor: The Covid-19 

website at: www. covid19. 

govt.nz has a wealth of 

useful information.



“Had she been 

vaccinated ... 

... would it have given her a 

fighting chance to survive?” 

Dr Lira Lecias (right), 

a GP at Waiuku Health 

Centre in Auckland, 

with her late mum 

Lilia Gamboa 

GP Lira Lecias wants to 

encourage people to get 

vaccinated and keep their 

family and friends safe. 

Dr Lecias has written an 

open letter to all New 

Zealanders in honour of her 

beloved mother, the late 

Lilia Gamboa, about her 

family’s experience with 

COVID in the Philippines. 

Dr Lira Lecias has been 

nominated for the Filipino-Kiwi 

HERO OF THE YEAR Award 2022. 

AUCKLAND - It is hard 

and painful and I wouldn’t 

wish this to happen to you 

and your families here in 

New Zealand. 

I want to share my family’s 

experience with 

COVID in the Philippines. 

By sharing my story 

I hope that those of you 

who have second thoughts, 

doubts or hesitations about 

getting the vaccine may 

think about getting the jab 

sooner rather than later. 

Since the pandemic 

started, part of my work as 

a GP on the frontline has 

been treating and swabbing 

patients with respiratory 

or viral illnesses in the 

'red zone' of Waiuku 

Health Centre. 

Every time I put on my 

PPE I would wish that 

there was something in the 

medicine cabinet that I 

could take to protect me, 

my family, my healthcare 

team and my friends from 

getting COVID. 

I also experience 

hesitancy 

The vaccine became 

available for us, frontliners, 

in March of last year. I 

also experienced hesitancy 

regarding getting the vaccine. 

Initially I had the same 

questions you may also 

have in your mind right 

now. Will I have bad side 

effects? Will I die? What 

will be the effects of the 

vaccine in the long term? 

However, I also wondered: 

If the vaccine is 

there to help us protect 

ourselves – why wouldn’t I 

take it? 

So after weighing up the 

benefits vs the risks and 

after considering the available 

evidence, I then decided 

to get vaccinated. 

Since then I have been 

watching the numbers in 

other countries, to find out 

how much vaccination can 

protect us. Although data 

from other countries 

showed the trend that vaccination 

protects people 

from developing severe 

COVID, the numbers may 

not necessarily mean anything 

at a personal level. 

Until COVID hits 

home 

Knowing the numbers 

does not necessarily motivate 

some of us to get vaccinated 

urgently. Until 

COVID hits home, only 

then do you start to see for 

yourself who survives and 

who doesn’t. This is why I 

would like to share my 

family’s experience with 

you. 

Recently my family 

(father, mother and two 

nephews who live with 

them) contracted COVID. 

My father (75) has medical 

comorbidities, including 

hypertension and atrial 

fibrillation. He developed 

a cough, fever and shortness 

of breath. 

My sister brought him to 

a public hospital where he 

waited overnight for his 

COVID test results in a 

holding area in a tent outside 

the hospital building. 

The next day, 31 August, 

we were fortunate to find a 

private hospital for him. 

My father needed oxygen 

supplementation. He 

improved and was discharged 

14 days later. 

Two days after my father 

was admitted to the hospital, 

my mother, who was 

symptomatic and who had 

also tested positive for 

COVID, was also put on a 

waiting list. 

We had to purchase a 

pulse oximeter and oxygen 

tank to support her 

breathing at home as her 

oxygen saturation (O2sat) 

was dropping. 

When space became 

available she was finally 

admitted to the hospital 

with her O2sat already at 

around 84 percent. 

My mother was 74 years 

old and was taking oral 

medications for hypertension 

and diabetes. She 

received all the treatments 

for COVID, similar to 

what would be given here 

in New Zealand for moderate-severe 

COVID. 

Despite the available 

treatments she continued 

to deteriorate over the next 

few days, requiring intubation 

and ICU admission. 

She eventually passed 

away on 14 September. 

Home oxygen supplementation 

My nephews, a 27 year 

old with scoliosis and a 

mental health condition 

and a 23 year old with a 

history of asthma, were 

both unvaccinated. 

The local government 

advised them to quarantine 

at home with the rest 

of the family. They were 

managed at home by their 

mother, my sister, who had 

received a first dose of the 

Sinovac vaccine. They both 

needed oxygen supplementation 

at home as their 

O2sats also fell below 95 

percent, with one of them 

going as low as 89 percent. 

The remaining four 

members in the household 

developed mild symptoms 

(presumed to be COVID). 

Two of them (17 year old 

male and 24 year old male) 

were unvaccinated. The 

other two (41 year old male 

and 20 year old female) 

were vaccinated with a 

first dose of Sinovac. 

What were the outcomes 

after two weeks? My 

father, who had received a 

dose of the vaccine, survived 

moderate COVID. 

My vaccinated sister 

remained asymptomatic. 

My vaccinated niece and 

41 year old extended family 

member also recovered 

from mild COVID. While 

the four unvaccinated family 

members recovered, 

two needed home oxygen 

supplementation. 

Unfortunately, in the 

case of my mother, COVID 

caught up with her before 

she could get her vaccination 

and she didn’t survive. 

My mother was vaccinehesitant 

in the beginning, 

because she feared that she 

would get adverse effects. 

When she finally decided 

to go for her vaccination it 

did not happen because the 

centre ran out of vaccines. 

Sadly she contracted 

COVID before her next 

appointment. 

Luxury of low 

cases 

Since we lost our mother, 

a couple of questions that 

continue to play in my 

mind are: Had she been 

vaccinated, would it have 

given her a fighting chance 

to survive? Would it be a 

different scenario if she 

was here in New Zealand? 

Not only do we have vaccines 

available now, but we 

also have the luxury of 

time to get vaccinated 

while our COVID cases are 

still low. 

An Auntie (68), has 

myasthenia gravis, but has 

received a dose of the 

Moderna vaccine. She 

nursed both my sick parents 

at the hospital, but 

didn’t get COVID. 

Another Auntie (63), 

who has diabetes and who 

had completed a course of 

the Sinovac vaccine also 

didn’t get COVID after 

meeting with a symptomatic, 

unvaccinated dear 

friend whose husband 

unfortunately also died 

from COVID. 

I know of friends here in 

Auckland whose family 

members in the Philippines 

were also recently 

affected by COVID. A 

friend’s mum, who is 72 

years old with rheumatoid 

arthritis, completed two 

doses of Astra Zeneca and 

is now recovering from 

COVID. 

On the other hand, 

another friend’s father, 83 

years old, passed away 

from COVID on 4 

October. He was unvaccinated. 

Vaccination makes 

a difference 

Now I don’t need to look 

far away to see what’s happening 

in other countries. 

Unfortunately, in my family’s 

and friends’ cases, the 

unvaccinated vulnerable 

family members are the 

ones we’ve lost. Our family 

members who had at least 

one dose, regardless of the 

vaccine, were protected or 

had better outcomes after 

contracting COVID. 

Unknown to many of 

you, while New Zealand 

was in lockdown since 

mid-August, some of our 

Filipino community members 

here in New Zealand 

have been mourning the 

loss of loved ones back in 

the Philippines due to 

COVID. 

It is hard and painful 

and I wouldn’t wish this to 

happen to you and your 

families here in New 

Zealand. 

Give yourselves and 

your whanau a fighting 

chance. Vaccines are within 

our reach. Give our 

healthcare system a fighting 

chance to deal with 

COVID by getting as many 

eligible family members as 

possible vaccinated.



Do children receive a 

smaller dose of the vaccine 

than adults? 

Yes. The child doses of the 

Pfizer vaccine are smaller 

than the ones used for 

people over the age of 12 – 

a child’s dose is one third 

of the adult dose. 

And how far apart do they 

receive their two doses? 

Currently the 

recommendation in New 

Zealand is that the first 

and second doses are 

given 8 weeks apart. The 

interval can be shortened 

to a minimum of 21 days 

if needed, for example if 

your child is starting 

significant immunosuppression 

treatment. 

How safe is the vaccine for 

my child? 

For children aged 5 to 

11, clinical trial results 

showed the Pfizer vaccine 

was 90.7% effective 

against getting COVID-19 

symptoms, and no 

participants developed 

severe COVID-19. 

In the United States, 

more than 8 million doses 

were administered in the 5 

to 11 age group from 

November to December 

2021. The national public 

health agency, Centres for 

Disease Control and 

Prevention, reports 

serious adverse reactions 

were rarely reported. 

It says parents and 

caregivers of children in 

this age group should be 

advised that local and 

systemic reactions are 

expected after receiving 

the Pfizer vaccine but are 

more common after the 

second dose. 

What if my child has food 

allergies? 

The vaccine has no 

increased risk for those 

tamariki with food, gelatin 

or latex allergy as these 

are not contained within 

the Pfizer vaccine. 

When and where can 5- 

11’s be vaccinated? 

From 17 January, 

parents or caregivers can 

take their 5 to 11 year olds 

to their GP or pharmacy 

to be immunised against 

COVID-19. Or, they can 

walk in at most vaccination 

centres. 

A number of our community 

partners are 

continuing to set up 

pop-up vaccination clinics 

and events at churches, 

sports clubs and in school 

communities. 

If you want to book for 

more than 1 child or you 

are unable to book online, 

call the COVID 

Vaccination Healthline 

on 0800 28 29 26 (8am to 

8pm, 7 days a week) and 

we will make the booking 

for you and answer any 

Everything parents will want to know 

about vaccinating their children 

By Dr Hari Talreja 

questions. Interpreters are 

available. 

How will the consent 

process work? And can 

parents be assured its 

robust nation-wide? 

Children in this age 

group must have a parent, 

caregiver or legal 

guardian accompany them 

to their appointment and 

provide verbal consent for 

them to be vaccinated. 

At the appointment, 

both the adult and child 

can ask as many questions 

as they like. 

What are the side effects 

for this age group? 

Side effects of immunisation 

in children are 

similar to those seen in 

adults. These side effects 

are generally mild and 

should only last 1 or 2 

days. 

The most common side 

effects are: 

• a sore arm from the 

injection – you can put a 

cold cloth or ice pack on it 

to feel better 

• a headache 

• feeling tired 

• feeling feverish or 

sweaty 

• nausea (feeling like you 

need to vomit) 

• aching muscles. 

Why is it important that I 

vaccinate my child? 

Immunising 5 to 11- 

year-old tamariki helps 

protect them from getting 

unwell from COVID-19. 

The COVID-19 virus 

can be unpredictable. 

While COVID-19 

generally has milder 

effects in children, with 

symptoms being similar to 

a cold, some children 

become severely ill and 

require hospitalisation. 

Tamariki can also have 

rare complications such as 

Multisystem Inflammatory 

Syndrome (MIS-C) 

that may require intensive 

care. Tamariki can also 

suffer long term effects 

(known as long COVID), 

even after mild cases of 

COVID-19. 

Will certain ethnic groups 

be prioritised for the paediatric 

vaccine rollout? 

We have enough doses 

of the paediatric 

vaccination to ensure all 

tamariki can be vaccinated. 

Our priority is to 

ensure an equitable 

delivery model. 

Maori and Pacific 

people have and will 

continue to be prioritised 

in the roll-out, as they’re 

more likely to get 

seriously ill from COVID- 

19. We continue to work 

with iwi, DHBs, local 

providers, communities 

and the Ministry of 

Education to reach all 

children in our 

community. Some clinics 

may also offer other 

childhood immunisations. 

Are specially trained vaccinators 

needed? 

Yes, updated training 

has been provided for 

paediatric group due to 

some differences in the 

drawing up and administration 

of this vaccine. 

What do you say to vaccine 

hesitant parents? 

How safe is the vaccine for 

5-11s? 

The Pfizer vaccine is 

proven to be highly 

effective in young people 

after two doses are 

administered. That means 

if they do develop 

COVID-19, they’re far 

less likely to fall seriously 

ill and less likely to 

transmit the virus to 

others – including whanau 

and friends who may be 

more at risk from 

COVID-19. 

Will children be required 

to have a My Vaccine Pass 

to access non-essential 

services? 

Children will not need a 

My Vaccine Pass and 

children under 12 can’t 

get a My Vaccine Pass. 

There is no requirement 

(vaccine mandate) for 

tamariki to be immunised. 

It is completely up to the 

parents or caregivers to 

With eight years’ experience at Counties 

Manukau Health and previous 

international experience in Canada, Dr 

Hari Talreja cares for patients with kidney 

disease and renal transplantation – which 

puts them at a higher risk of developing 

complications from Covid-19. 

He has been a strong advocate for his 

patients to get vaccinated and is now 

encouraging Auckland parents and 

caregivers to immunise their children aged 

5 to 11, who are eligible from January 17, 

against COVID-19. 

He has responded to questions below with 

the support of the Northern Region Health 

Co-ordination Centre (NRHCC), which is 

running Auckland’s vaccination 

programme. 

Photo credit: Dreamstime (Models featured) 

decide if they want their 

children immunised. 

Could this age group have 

AstraZeneca instead of 

Pfizer? 

Medsafe has approved 

the child version of the 

Pfizer vaccine for children 

aged 5-11 years old. The 

AstraZeneca vaccine is 

approved only for adults 

aged 18 and older. 

Will this age group need 

boosters? 

Children aged 5-11 are 

not eligible for booster 

doses. Medsafe has 

provisionally approved a 

booster dose of the Pfizer 

vaccine for adults aged 18 

and older.

ISSUE 160 FILIPINO-KIWI HERO AWARDS | www.filipinoheroes.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.filipinonews.nz | mobile: 027 495 8477 | 19



The arrival of the 

Omicron variant of Covid- 

19 into New Zealand has 

meant the gap between the 

second vaccine dose and 

booster has been shortened 

even further - originally six 

months going to four months 

in early January 2022, and 

then reduced to three months 

in early February. 

The timing of the rollout 

had previously caused some 

confusion about when people 

should go and how it all 

works. 

The government made its 

latest decision on the interval 

after advice from the 

Vaccine Technical Advisory 

Group. It meant more people 

would be able eligible to get 

their booster before 

Omicron took hold in the 

community. 

There's also a difference 

between booster doses and 

third primary doses. (Note: 

For most people, a primary 

course is two doses, for 

some people a primary 

course could be three doses.) 

RNZ is here to clear it all 

up. 

What is the booster 

dose? 

The Pfizer booster vaccine 

dose is generally being 

used in New Zealand, even 

if you had a different vaccine 

for your primary 

course. 

AstraZeneca boosters are 

also available on prescription, 

but only four months 

after the second dose. 

Prescriptions can be obtained 

at the vaccinating 

AstraZeneca clinic or before 

the vaccine appointment 

with a doctor. It is free to 

visit the doctor for an 

AstraZeneca booster prescription. 

The booster is different to 

the third primary dose recommended 

for people who 

are immunocompromised. 

People eligible for a third 

primary dose can access a 

booster dose three months 

after receiving their third 

primary dose. 

When can you get your 

booster? 

In early December, the 

government announced it 

would shorten the required 

gap between the second dose 

and booster, from six 

months to four months. In 

early February, the interval 

was further reduced to three 

months, or 93 days. 

You can check when you 

are due for a booster by visiting 

mycovidrecord.nz or 

your purple Covid-19 

Vaccine appointment card if 

you have one. 

If you have already 

E X P L A I N E R 

Covid-19 vaccine booster dose: 

What you need to know 

booked your booster dose 

with a four-month gap, you 

can keep your original 

appointment, or change it. 

Although, the government 

has advised people not to 

delay getting it, to reduce the 

risk of Omicron as it spreads 

in the community. 

The Ministry of Health 

has said there are plenty of 

booster doses available and 

no one would miss out. 

Where to go to get a 

booster 

You can find locations for 

walk-in and drive-through 

vaccination places by clicking 

here. 

Appointment slots have 

been available from 17 

January via Book My 

Vaccine online. 

If you cannot book online, 

you can call the Covid-19 

Vaccination Healthline on 

0800 28 29 26 (8am to 8pm, 

seven days a week). 

Interpretation services, 

and text, email and NZ 

Relay options for deaf and 

hearing impaired are available 

if you need them via the 

0800 number. 

There is also a specialist 

team for disabled people 

(option 2 on the 0800 number). 

You can also make an 

appointment with your doctor 

if they are providing 

Covid-19 vaccines. 

Who is eligible for the 

Covid-19 vaccine booster? 

Healthcare and border 

workers have been the priority 

for booster doses since 

large numbers of people in 

those industries had their 

primary doses earlier than 

the rest of the population. 

When you arrive for your 

booster, the date of your last 

dose will be checked in the 

booking system to ensure 

you have gone through the 

required interval period. 

People aged five years and 

older have been able to get 

their primary Covid-19 vaccine 

courses, but the booster 

dose is currently only available 

for those aged 18 years 

and above. 

Advice from the Covid 

Vaccine Technical Advisory 

Group is expected in mid- 

February on when 12 to 17 

year olds would be able to 

get booster doses "if the scientific 

advice supports 

booster doses in some, or all, 

of this age group", the government 

said on its Covid-19 

website. 

The booster vaccine can 

be given at any stage of 

pregnancy, at least 3 months 

after the primary course. 

In a pamphlet from the 

ministry early in December, 

the ministry had recommended 

that those who had 

their full primary course 

during pregnancy to wait 

until after the baby is born to 

get the booster dose. 

However, in a statement to 

RNZ on 7 January, the ministry 

has clarified that advice 

has changed for pregnant 

women following review 

from the College of 

Obstetricians and guidance 

issued by the Australian 

Technical Advisory Group 

on Immunisation. 

"Pregnant people are at 

high risk for severe outcomes 

from Covid-19 infection, 

and those who are 

unvaccinated are more likely 

to have complications during 

pregnancy if they contract 

Covid-19," the ministry 

said in a media release. 

The ministry advised that 

pregnant women should discuss 

the timing of their 

booster with their midwife, 

obstetrician or general practitioner. 

If you had your Covid-19 

vaccination overseas, you 

can get still get the booster 

for free once you have gone 

through the required interval 

from your last dose. 

Potential side effects of 

boosters 

You may experience some 

side effects with the booster 

similar to the primary course 

of the vaccine, according to 

the Ministry of Health. 

These include muscle 

aches, pain at the injection 

site, headaches, nausea, and 

feeling tired or fatigued. For 

most people, these tend to be 

mild effects and don't last 

long. 

Some side effects are 

more serious but very rare, 

like a severe allergic reaction 

or an inflammation of 

the heart (myocarditis). 

If you develop difficulty 

breathing, a racing heart, 

chest pain or feel faint 

immediately or in the days 

after the vaccine, you should 

seek medical attention. 

If you're unsure about 

your symptoms or if they get 

worse, call Healthline: 0800 

358 5453. 

If you have had a severe or 

immediate allergic reaction 

to any vaccine or injection in 

the past, tell your vaccinator. 

Serious allergic reactions do 

happen but are extremely 

rare. 

An online reporting form 

for adverse events following 

immunisation with Covid-19 

vaccines is now available. 

Director-General of 

Health Ashley Bloomfield 

said New Zealand Covid-19 

vaccination data so far was 

similar to that overseas; we 

had not seen an increase in 

side effects, and overall 

adverse events after each 

additional vaccination had 

declined. 

Vaccine passes for boosters 

You do not need to have a 

booster to be certified as 

'fully vaccinated' for My 

Vaccine Pass or an International 

Travel Vaccination 

Certificate. Your My 

Vaccine Pass will remain 

valid, even if you do not get 

a booster dose. 

If you do get a booster 

dose, it will be added to My 

Covid Record and you can 

create another pass. 

Is it mandatory to have a 

Covid-19 vaccine booster? 

Early in December, the 

government announced 

Cabinet agreed in principle 

that where workers are 

required to be vaccinated, 

this mandate will now 

extend to booster doses. 

The addition to the order 

came into effect on 23 

January 2022 and means 

border and MIQ workforces, 

health and disability workforces, 

as well as those 

involved with the border or 

health or MIQ from 

Corrections, police, defence, 

and fire and emergency will 

be required to have their 

booster by 15 February, 

2022, if eligible. 

For police and fire and 

emergency workforces who 

are involved with education, 

they are required to have the 

booster by 1 March 2022. 

The same date applies for 

the education workforce. 

For all these workers, a 

booster dose is mandated six 

months (183 days) from the 

end of their primary vaccination 

course. Although, as 

with the rest of the eligible 

population, they will also be 

eligible for a booster three 

months after their primary 

vaccine course. 

How effective is the 

booster against Covid-19? 

The Ministry of Health 

said data from Pfizer 

showed that a booster dose 

was 95.6 percent effective 

against the coronavirus, 

including the Delta variant, 

compared to those who did 

not receive a booster. 

The ministry said evidence 

showed that after six 

months of a full vaccination 

course, protection against 

Covid-19 was reduced and 

so a 'top up' vaccine would 

help boost immunity against 

the virus. 

"We already know that 

booster vaccinations significantly 

lift an individual's 

immunity, reducing the 

spread and the severity of 

Covid-19. 

"Data is emerging now 

that booster doses of Pfizer 

provide better protection 

than two doses do when it 

comes to the Omicron variant." 

The UK Health Security 

Agency (UKHSA) analysed 

more than 600,000 confirmed 

and suspected cases 

of the Omicron variant up to 

29 December in England 

and found a booster vaccine 

is 88 percent effective at preventing 

people ending up in 

hospital with Covid-19. 

The data confirms that two 

doses of the AstraZeneca, 

Pfizer or Moderna vaccines 

offers little protection 

against being infected with 

Omicron. 

Why has the time 

between the second dose 

and booster been shortened? 

Before the highly infectious 

Omicron variant 

arrived in the community, 

Covid-19 Response Minister 

Chris Hipkins had said it 

was expected that every case 

coming into New Zealand's 

border would be of the variant. 

The government hopes 

having widespread administration 

of the Covid-19 vaccine 

booster will help 

decrease the risk of transmission 

and minimise the 

impact on the healthcare 

system. 

"Don't think getting a 

booster is just about keeping 

yourself safe," said Prime 

Minister Jacinda Ardern. 

"It's about ensuring our hospital 

and health system is not 

overwhelmed so those you 

love and everyone in our 

community who needs our 

hospitals can get the care 

they need." 

Hipkins said the change in 

interval would give a chance 

for people, especially Maori, 

to receive a booster and 

increase their protection 

before Omicron took hold. 

Ministry of Health Chief 

Science Advisor Ian Town 

said bringing it forward to 

three months, which had 

been done in the United 

Kingdom and in many 

Australian states, meant 

New Zealand could get the 

level of antibodies at a peak 

before it was facing widespread 

transmission of 

Omicron. 

There did not appear to be 

any downside to reducing 

the interval to three months, 

he said. 

Director-General of 

Health Dr Ashley 

Bloomfield said speeding up 

the booster rollout was a key 

part of the country's 

response to Omicron. 

- Published with special 

permission from RNZ



How are you feeling? 

Marivic A. Murray 

Putting a bit of colour 

on my rather pale semblance. 

If you think that Covid 

is a joke, think again! This 

virus is nasty. Some say 

that it’s just a flu. NOT in 

Anonymous: 

“I was negative all 

throughout the first 10 days 

of isolation with my family. 

In the morning when I was 

about to report to work, I 

got a positive result and 

immediately called up to 

resume isolation. 

It was a good thing that I 

was fully paid throughout 

and am getting back to 

work at a place that has 

remote spaces away from 

each other. 

In the back of my head is 

the thought that it might 

have been better if we had 

contracted the virus at the 

same time to prevent the 

prolonged isolation. But 

I’m still thankful for the 

time we spent bonding 

together as a family and 

now we are safe.” 

Anonymous: 

“It was a new feeling, 

relative to ordinary flu 

although I was feeling 

feverish as well. COVID 

felt more exhausting to 

the body and I was dizzy 

all the time whenever I 

moved. 

What I did to make 

myself better aside from 

rest and fluids was to 

get myself to sweat to 

get rid of the warmth 

from the body. I felt better 

slowly after each 

time.” 

my case. 

While it is common 

knowledge 

that it affects people 

differently, it 

hit me pretty 

hard. It was tough 

and I was still 

coughing badly 

after two weeks. 

The headache and 

fever came and 

went. 

Although I was 

able to walk 

around a little, I 

still felt tired and 

puffed by simple 

movements. 

Please be diligent 

with sanitizing 

and washing your 

hands, even if you’re vaccinated 

and boostered. 

I don’t wish this virus 

on anyone. Please look 

after yourselves. 

#roadtorecovery 

#readytogobacktowork 

Grelevi Pepito 

Anonymous: 

“Before I was swabbed, 

I had a cough and a runny 

nose already. It was different 

since I was coughing 

more frequently than 

with ordinary flu. 

When I knew I was positive, 

I took a lot of vitamin 

C, medicine for the 

cough, effervescent tablets 

and applied medicinal 

spray to my mouth and 

nose. 

I was wearing a mask 

all the time in the household 

to keep everyone else 

from getting the disease as 

well.” 

“I got all the symptoms 

when I had COVID: 

cough, fever, runny nose 

and loss of taste. 

My mental health was 

also badly affected during 

isolation being away from 

my wife. 

Though my body recovered 

soon enough, the 

virus still lingered for 

weeks. That’s why when I 

finally got a negative 

result, I was still cautious 

about going out in the fear 

of infecting others. I was 

still paranoid about meeting 

my wife in common 

areas, so that she wouldn't 

experience what I’ve 

experienced. 

My booster shot was 

also delayed since I contracted 

the virus, so I 

have to be careful still as I might get it again or become 

a potential carrier.” 

COVID 

EXPERIENCES: 

“I don’t wish this virus 

on anyone. Please look 

after yourselves.” 

- Marivic A. Murray 

Anonymous: 

“I experienced a similar 

case to other households 

where the children got it 

first and the parents 

became secondary hosts. 

I was experiencing 

hayfever symptoms like 

sneezing and runny nose – 

which I think was milder 

than the others. I can say 

that your body will getreally 

sick for two days and 

after that it will slowly 

recover. 

I am grateful for the help 

of a multicultural organization 

here for sending 

care packages and for my 

community for looking 

after our family while we 

were in isolation.” 

Marle Tanjay 

“For a week I didn’t 

have any sense of smell 

or taste. Common 

symptoms were present 

such as fever, a cough, 

and body soreness. 

Even after two weeks 

worth of rest I still feel 

dizzy moving around 

and running errands 

such as doing grocery 

and bank stuff. I can say 

that my body has fully 

recovered after a 

month. In the period of 

recovery I just tried to 

be active by sweating it 

all out through cardio 

and weight exercises at 

home.” 

Jene Saberon Jorgensen, Auckland 

Last month I attended 

a committee meeting in a 

friends house. There 

were eight of us seated in 

an enclosed area - the 

lounge. 

After the meeting we 

had a shared lunch. 

Everything was lovely 

and the food was delicious. 

The next day, one of 

the attendees posted that 

he was Covid-19 

positive. The following 

day, Marivic 

(whose comments 

are featured in this 

article) posted that 

she was positive. 

About that time I 

was also feeling sick. 

It started with a sore 

throat, then a foggy 

feeling and tiredness. 

The next day I was 

worse off, so my hubby 

bought a Covid-19 testing 

kit. I tested positive. 

I took two Panadol 

pills, gargled every 20 

minutes with a glass of 

warm water with lots of 

salt and alternated this 

with gargling with a 

mouth wash. 

My hubby kept 

reminding me to just lie 

in bed and rest. 

Fortunately I didn’t 

get a fever. No vomiting, 

no headaches, just muscle 

or body aches and 

feeling weak. 

I decided to make a 

concoction of various 

herbs and leaves from 

my garden to drink. I 

also began taking a Vit 

D, a B complex and a 

Krill Oil capsule daily. 

I didn’t lose my 

appetite at any stage. 

After 17 days I recovered 

from this ordeal.

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pg 23 

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To be considered for this role 

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24 | ISSUE 160 | HERO AWARDS | FILIPINO NEWS NZ : www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | Mobile : 027 495 8477 |

Filipino News June 2022

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