Council Premises Require Vaccine Pass from 17 January 2022

With the introduction of the COVID-19 Protection Framework on Friday 3 December 2021 (better known as the Traffic Light System), Council would like to inform residents throughout the Waimate District that Council will move towards becoming a CVC (COVID-19 Vaccination Certification system) business early next year.

I understand that there will be some people in the community that may question this measure, and where the balance lies between individual rights and freedoms and the right to health, which includes public health and safety. As a public service entity that, amongst other functions, provides essential services, the most appropriate action I can take is to provide some direction and certainty to employees and our valued customers.

This means that from Monday 17 January 2022, vaccine passes will be required to enter any of the following premises; Local Government Centre (125 Queen Street), Library, Event Centre and the Norman Kirk Memorial Swimming Pool. Failure to produce a pass will mean no entry, and this applies to staff, contractors, visitors and the general public. This will not include the Waimate Lakes Camping Area, campgrounds, resource recovery park, public toilets or parks and reserves.

Instead of introducing these changes from Friday 3 December, Council has opted to defer the new system until 17 January to ensure both staff and the public have sufficient time to meet the requirements. While we respect your choice not to receive the vaccination, as a significant business and employer, in the Waimate District, Council want to lead by example and do everything possible to protect the wellbeing and safety of all employees, their families and the wider community.

So, what will this mean for you?

From 17 January 2022, you will be asked to scan your vaccine pass at the point of entry. During this process, staff reserve the right to ask for photo ID to further verify the validity of your pass. If unable to produce this pass, entry will be denied. Mask use, QR code tracing and hand-sanitising will still be required for all visitors.

If at this point you are unvaccinated, your use of Council facilities will be restricted. However, you will still have access to the majority of our services via alternative methods. This will include phone, email, electronic payment options and the Housebound Service for library items.

If you haven’t yet got your vaccine pass and are unsure how to do this, you can visit mycovidrecord.health.nz to request it, or speak to the friendly team at Community Link (on Glasgow Street) for further assistance.

We are working through how scanning systems will work at our facilities, so keep an eye on our website and Facebook page for updates. In the meantime, we ask that you respect Council’s decision and remain kind to staff and each other.

Thank you for your support and cooperation during this transition.

Regards

Stuart Duncan
CHIEF EXECUTIVE