Published: 16 Mar 2022

In line with Government changes to the public health order Timaru District Council is making the following changes to its access requirements for facilities:

• School students over the age of 12 do not need to be holding a valid vaccine pass if participating in a school sport or Education Outside The Classroom (EOTC) event organised by a registered educational establishment.
• This applies to all council facilities including CBAY, STEC, South Canterbury Museum, Aigantighe Art Gallery and Timaru District Libraries.
• All teachers and parents accompanying students must still hold a valid vaccine pass.
• Outside of organised school sporting or EOTC events, everyone over the age of 12 years and 3 months must continue to show a valid vaccine pass on entry to Council facilities.
• Covid-19 Protection Framework Red Settings and facility age limits continue to apply with right of access reserved.

While we are satisfied that our overall settings under the red level of the COVID-19 Protection Framework are correct, we will review this with a view to reducing the restrictions as we pass the peak level of new infections and with guidance from local public health authorities.

For more information visit Timaru.govt.nz/covid19

Questions?

Why don’t you just remove the mandates entirely?

We are satisfied that we have the settings correct to balance public safety while ensuing the best facility access for the majority of our community. In cases such as CBAY we have to continue to follow the red settings under the Covid-19 Protection Framework in order to keep facilities such as the gym and café open.

We will review our settings with guidance from local public health authorities once we are past the peak number of cases and infection rates are declining in the community.

Can unvaccinated students now use Council facilities all the time?

No, access for those not holding vaccine passes is only during sporting or EOTC events organised by a registered education provider. Outside of these specified events our normal vaccine pass requirements are in place.

What about home schooled students?

Home school students can take part in specified sporting or EOTC events organised by their education provider. Please note that all adults and carers who are supervising students need to be holding a valid vaccine pass to enter our facilities.

How often do we review the mandate position?

We will actively review our mandates on a weekly basis and will move out of them when we can do so safely and considering the public health advice and guidance.  We will post our weekly reviews and brief assessment to our social media pages and the website.

Last updated: 16 Mar 2022