In line with the Government’s COVID-19 Protection Framework, the Wairoa District Council will lift its Vaccine Pass requirements from Tuesday, April 5.

Some of the updated traffic light settings began from midnight last Friday with the Government focus on making life simpler and closer to normal but retaining the guidelines that are most effective at reducing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting people.

Council buildings that will no longer require Vaccine Passes from Tuesday, April 5 will include the Council’s main Queen Street office building, Library, i-Site and Gaiety Theatre.

The Wairoa Museum has not used the Vaccine Pass system, and from yesterday (March 28) no longer required visitors to scan in with their QR code. 

Wairoa District Council Chief Executive Kitea Tipuna said the updated framework will help people manage life with Omicron while reducing the impact of future outbreaks. 

“Protecting our community remains paramount. We acknowledge some people, including our own Council staff, will be concerned with these changes, and we are working to ensure possible exposure risk is mitigated as much as possible.

“For the past two years the COVID-19 pandemic has seen us living in a rapidly changing world. No longer requiring a Vaccine Pass from April 5 will allow time for our staff and members of the public to transition into this next stage.

“We will continue to review the risks for as long as the pandemic continues. We are mindful that new variants may appear and will continue to be ready to respond to future changes.

“I would like to thank the community in advance for their co-operation and patience as they transition to this next stage. This has been a challenging time for our entire community, and these changes are a positive step to getting back to as normal as possible.”

Also, in line with the new framework, Council will no longer require people to scan their QR code.

Mr Tipuna reminded people that while the changes include no limits for outdoor activities, such as gatherings and events, and food and drink businesses and an increase to 200 people for indoor gatherings and events, My Vaccine Passes must be used until 11:59pm on 4 April.

If My Vaccine Passes are not used, the gathering limits remain unchanged.

There are also relaxations relating to masks where you do not need to wear a face mask outdoors, but other face mask rules remain unchanged and face masks are still required in most indoor settings.

28 March 2022

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