Vaccine passes to be removed from Council facilities

Vaccine passes will not be required at Western Bay facilities from next week.

From Monday 4 April Western Bay of Plenty District Council library and service centres, and swimming pools will see vaccine pass requirements for people aged 12 years and older removed.

Council events, indoor and outdoor, will also not require a vaccine pass. Indoor events will remain limited to 200, in line with the COVID-19 Protection Framework.

The decision follows Government significantly loosening COVID-19 rules, removing vaccine pass requirements and most vaccine mandates from 4 April.

QR code scanning requirements and outdoor gathering limits were also removed from 25 March at 11.59pm.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council CEO John Holyoake says throughout the pandemic Council has followed government and public health advice and is comfortable that this is an appropriate time to remove the pass requirements at Council facilities too.

“We know the decision to use vaccine passes has been divisive, but it was all about keeping people safe.

“This has been an adjustment not only for our community but our staff too. And so, we thank everyone for their patience and understanding throughout the last few months of using vaccine passes.”

With Aotearoa, New Zealand still in red under the revised COVID-19 Protection Framework, all Council facilities will see the appropriate health, hygiene and safety measures remain in place including wearing a face mask, ensuring physical distancing of 1m and if you have cold and flu symptoms isolate immediately and call Healthline for advice about a test.

“Despite the loosening of vaccine passes and mandates it is important to remember we are still at Red and COVID-19 is widely spread within our communities. So please be respectful and mindful of each other and keep up these health and safety measures,” says John.

All upcoming Council, community board and ward forum meetings will continue to take place virtually via Zoom.

If you wish to speak in public forum at a meeting via Zoom, please register by emailing governanceservices@westernbay.govt.nz or phone 07 571 8008.

A full calendar of meetings along with Zoom link details can be found on our dedicated Council meetings calendar.

You can watch our previous and upcoming livestreams on our YouTube channel.

For more information visit our dedicated COVID-19 page.