Emergency Management Otago emergency control centre planning manager Sylvie Leduc makes a call to a French-speaking migrant worker in Queenstown. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDPublic and private sector volunteers have joined forces with Emergency Management Otago to help assess the needs of about 4300 foreign nationals and their families in Queenstown who have sought welfare assistance as the impacts of Covid-19 continue to bite in the south. Information to date indicated the majority of people wanted to stay in New Zealand, if possible, and more than 60% indicated they still had employment. Where people needed help to contact their own government to seek support or repatriation flights, information may also be shared with embassies or consulates. Calls would be completed this week, but work to connect overseas citizens with available support would continue.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 30, 2020 22:07 UTC