Kia ora koutou,
As many of you heard, today the Prime Minister announced a set of changes to the Covid Protection Framework or Traffic Light settings that are in place. One of the changes is that from 11:59pm Monday, 4 April 2022 vaccine passes are no longer required.
This means for BTI that, from 5 April, all students, staff and visitors can come onto BTI campus regardless of vaccination status.
Anyone on campus will still need to maintain 1m distancing, practice good hygiene, and wear masks in public or shared spaces. Online teaching and learning will continue for most students and staff until at least Easter.
The Prime Minister also announced that from 11:59pm Monday, 4 April some government vaccine mandates will be removed, including for the education sector.
This means for BTI that from 5 April you can enter or continue any of our teacher education programmes regardless of vaccination status. Applications for 2023 will open in September and mid-year applications are open now for all teacher education programmes.
For our counselling and social work students, given that vaccine mandates will remain in place for large parts of the health sector, vaccination may still be required. BTI will be seeking further advice and working through the full implications for these students, and will be in touch with more details.
Your health and wellbeing remains very important to us. Please continue to stay home if you are at all unwell and get a test as soon as you can. If you are unwell or isolating with a household member who has Covid-19, please let us know so that we can support you, by emailing covidresponse@bti.ac.nz We uplift you in our prayers and pray for God to bring health and strength to return to those who are ill; for His endurance and peace for those who are caring for others.
As always, if you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to get in touch.
Ma te Atua tātou e manaaki,
Dr Andrew Butcher
Te Taiurungi/Principal