The latest bout of panic buying in supermarkets and pharmacies is contributing to the financial and emotional hardship of whānau across the country, Te Arawa Covid Response Hub warns.

Co-Chairman, Te Ururoa Flavell, says Māori had been thinking collectively for hundreds of years, keeping people at the centre of all of their decision making, and is urging the wider community to think likewise.

'Māori think about kotahitanga, the unity of community. We think whānaungatanga, caring for others. We think tiaki, looking after our resources so they can last longer for everyone," says Te Ururoa.

'We're asking our communities to put into practice the values that have sustained us over a very long period to help all of us.”

The Government's decision to move the country to Red this week once again ignited a slew of panic buying in supermarkets, resulting in the depletion of many essential items.

The Hub is reminding people there is plenty of food and essentials to go around in New Zealand and those panic buying are contributing to the problem, not solving it. Co-Chairman Monty Morrison says the best way to tautoko (support) everybody in the community is to shop normally.

'We understand it can be frightening when you go out for your weekly shop and half the shelves are empty. Many people's instincts are to then grab what they can in case it's not there next week," says Monty.

'We are urging people to resist any knee-jerk reaction. Aotearoa has strong horticulture and agriculture sectors; we produce more than enough kai to sustain ourselves and regardless of the traffic light setting, our supermarkets will always remain open.

'Together we will get through this.”

He aha te mea nui o te ao
What is the most important thing in the world?
He tangata, he tangata, he tangata
It is the people, it is the people, it is the people.