VISITING HOSPITAL

All hospital visitors are encouraged to wear a medical face mask. Expand this message for information about visiting hospital. 

Last updated:
31 October 2024

Some visitor restrictions for all Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury hospitals and health facilities remain in place, but we have relaxed others.

There is still a heightened risk to vulnerable people in hospital and we encourage all people wear a mask when visiting any of our facilities and follow other advice designed to keep patients, staff and visitors safe.

To keep everybody safe:

  • Visitors or support people are advised to not visit our facilities if they are unwell. We advise that you do not visit if you have recently tested positive for COVID-19 and haven’t completed your isolation period.
  • Patients may have more than one visitor, except in some situations such as multi-bed rooms where it can cause overcrowding.
  • Surgical/medical masks are encouraged to be worn at all sites. Masks will be provided if you don’t have one.
  • Please practice hand hygiene with provided alcohol-based hand rub/gel

Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as our staff work hard to protect and care for some of the most vulnerable in our community.

Visiting patients with COVID-19

  • People can visit patients who have COVID-19 but they must wear a surgical mask as a minimum – please use surgical masks provided.

All of our Hospitals

Visiting hours for our hospitals have returned to pre COVID-19 hours.

All visitors are encouraged to wear a medical face mask.

Parents/caregivers can be with their child in hospital and visitors are now allowed, except for the Children’s Haematology and Oncology Day stay where visitor restrictions might apply.

Patients and visitors can also read the additional COVID-19 related visiting guidelines .

Health Warning – Unsafe Recreational Water Quality at Waiau Uwha River at SH70

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Monday 31 March 2025Media release2 minutes to read

Health Warning – Unsafe Recreational Water Quality at Waiau Uwha River at SH70

Health Warning – Unsafe Recreational Water Quality at Waiau Uwha River at SH70

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora has issued a health warning after high levels of faecal bacteria were found in consecutive samples taken from Waiau Uwha River at SH70.

Dr Claire Salter, Public Health Medicine Specialist for the National Public Health Service, says “Water quality at affected site is not considered suitable for recreational uses including swimming because of the risk to health from the bacteria and other pathogens”.

Eating fish from these sites should be avoided. If fish are eaten, remove the gut and liver and wash in clean water before cooking. For further information on gathering Mahinga Kai refer to information below.

There is currently also a health warning in place for toxic algae (benthic cyanobacteria) at the Southbank tributary of the Waiau Uwha River above Waiau Bridge.

Water contaminated by human or animal faecal matter may contain a range of disease-causing micro-organisms such as viruses, bacteria and protozoa.

The sites where water quality is affected are listed on Environment Canterbury’s website, she says.

For further details visit: https://www.lawa.org.nz/explore-data/canterbury-region/

Or contact the National Public Health Service on (03) 364 1777:

https://www.cph.co.nz/your-health/recreational-water/

For more information about Mahinga Kai:

https://www.cph.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/saf0112.pdf

ENDS

For further information, contact:

Karen Berry

Public Health Communications Lead, Te Waipounamu

National Public Health Service

Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora

021 139 7442

kberry@scdhb.health.nz

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Page last updated: 31 March 2025

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