The Wairoa District Council will lift its Vaccine Pass requirements from tomorrow, Tuesday, April 5.

In line with the Government’s COVID-19 Protection Framework, Council buildings will no longer require Vaccine Passes including 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 no longer requires visitors to scan in with their QR code. 

The Government focus is on making life simpler and closer to normal while retaining the guidelines that are most effective at reducing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting people.

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. 

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

“I would like to thank the community for their co-operation and patience as they transition through this 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.

The new framework includes changes around limits for outdoor activities increasing to 200 people and relaxations relating to masks wearing outdoors, but other face mask rules remain unchanged and face masks are still required in most indoor settings.

“Protecting our community is our focus and 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.”

4 April 2022

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