New Zealand is in lockdown but Bay of Plenty people can still connect through Sun Media's news website: www.sunlive.co.nz and can now find essential services near them on a separate tab on the Tauranga City App.

Only essential business will be open during this time and the government has a list of what are considered essential businesses at its website: www.covid19.govt.nz

Sun Media now has a comprehensive list of local essential services on the Tauranga City App under a new ‘ESSENTIAL SERVICES' tab. People can download the app and add their own essential service to the list.

In general supermarkets and dairies can stay open as well as vet clinics, medical centres and petrol stations.

Businesses staying open during the four-week period have made announcements on their Facebook page or website and have also included what services they will be offering and what people can do to help them out during this time.

Businesses are encouraging people to ring them before visiting, medical clinics and vet clinics waiting rooms have been closed and opening hours for many businesses staying open have been reduced.

Local vet clinics are asking people to wait in their car upon arrival to the clinic and to ring reception. Petrol stations have also closed store access and are using the night pay windows.

A full list of local businesses remaining open is on the Tauranga City App, available from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. SunLive also has a separate ‘CORONAVIRUS' category for all the latest local and national updates.

SunLive has 48,000 Facebook likes and 750,279 average weekly page views. It is the fourth most viewed newspaper/magazine website in New Zealand and is dedicated to local breaking news. Source: Nielsen Online Market Intelligence.