‘One step closer to reopening’
Sports fans who want to support their favourite team this summer will have to be vaccinated.
The government yesterday announced that vaccine certificates will be required to access venues and events under the new Covid-19 green-orange-red traffic light system.
The new framework will come into place once local District Health Boards have reached 90 per cent vaccination rate, with the government reviewing the strategy in late November. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said those who want to get out and about this summer need to be vaccinated.
‘‘If you want a summer . . . If you want to go to . . . a sports event, get vaccinated. If you are not vaccinated, there will be everyday things you will miss out on,’’ she said.
Eden Park chief executive Nick Sautner welcomed the announcement, as it brings the venue ‘‘one step closer to reopening for events’’. Eden Park will host three major women’s World Cups – cricket, rugby and football – in the next three years.
He said the health and safety of Eden Park patrons ‘‘always remain our priority’’ but said the ground is still working through processes on how and where vaccination certificates will be displayed.
Checking certificates at the gate could increase queues and entry wait times, so he is looking abroad to see how over event providers have implemented the vaccine certificate mandate.
The Basin Reserve is hosting the opening round of the Plunket Shield domestic cricket competition this weekend between Wellington and Otago. As Wellington is still under Covid-19 alert level 2, fans are not required to show their vaccine status, but will be required to wear a mask and social distance.
Under current guidelines, Cricket Wellington has not mandated vaccinations for staff, players or contractors, but under the new framework, that is set to change.
Cricket Wellington chief executive Cam Mitchell said anyone coming into the venue will need to adhere to vaccination certificate requirements.
‘‘It helps us build towards a great summer. Obviously it could be an exciting opportunity for people to be out, safe at the Basin Reserve, enjoying cricket,’’ he said.
The International Cricket Council is keeping a close eye on developments as the Women’s World Cup, hosted by New Zealand, is only five months away. ICC’s Claire Furlong said the organisation has an independent Bio-Security Advisory Committee that provides guidance in all Covid-related issues.
She said the ICC takes the lead from authorities in determining entry to major cricket events, including the current T20 World Cup being played in the United Arab Emirates. Fans attending games in Oman and Abu Dhabi must be vaccinated while those in Dubai and Sharjah do not need to be. Under the new traffic-light system in New Zealand, fans attending World Cup venues will have to present vaccine certificates.
At a community level, no community sport can go ahead under the current Covid alert level 3. However, for those in Level 2, Sport NZ guidelines states community sporting events are considered a gathering and the 100-person limit applies. Sport facilities are also meant to display tracing QR codes.
A Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet spokesperson said consultation with a ‘‘wide range of people’’ including the sport sector will occur, with more details on the new framework’s implementation being released by November.