‘All welcome’: Campground’s open-door policy ‘crazy’

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

THE decision by the owners of a Gisborne campground to welcome all visitors regardless of vaccination status has been described as “crazy” by an epidemiologist.

Tatapouri Bay Oceanside Accommodation owners Nathan and Shanti Foon in a statement on Instagram this week wrote “All WELCOME” and said they would accept all guests whether they were vaccinated or not.

“We have all been faced with decisions we could have never imagined making,” they said.

“When we first adopted Tatapouri Bay, we sat together and defined our values as individuals and as a business.

“It became obvious that community and connection would be at the heart of everything. We have decided to stand by what we believe in, which is to make everyone feel welcome.

“We will continue to welcome all to our campground. Your vaccination status is not something that needs to be discussed. Our cleaning procedures will be maintained to a very high standard and we trust that guests will treat each other with respect.

“Our cafe will run under the contactless option in red and orange (of the Covid-19 Protection Framework traffic lights system which came into force this week).

“Note that people staying at Tatapouri Bay can use the area but other cafe guests must take their order to-go. However, you can enjoy your coffee on the beach as this is public property.

“Opening hours will remain the same and we ask that you please follow the safety procedures as set out by the Government.

“We had to trust our gut on this one and hope you can understand our decisions. It's important to remain compassionate regardless of differing choices. We appreciate your support and send our love to all.”

Auckland University epidemiologist Rod Jackson criticised the move.

He told The New Zealand Herald the risk associated with a campsite where one in every 10 campers was unvaccinated was vastly different than if that campsite became favoured by anti-vaxxers, regardless of whether that was the business's intention.

“Basically what those businesses have decided to do is not to actually manage the risk,” Jackson said. “You're putting the vast majority of your clients or customers at risk. I think it's crazy.”

Under the Covid-19 Protection Framework there is no requirement for accommodation providers to use vaccine certificates as a requirement for staying.

Accommodation can open at red with no capacity limits. However, the choice can be made to follow My Vaccine Pass requirements and require people to show their My Vaccine Pass to be at the accommodation.

Waikanae Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park will do just that from December 17.

“As of the December 17, the Waikanae Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park will require all guests, visitors and contractors to be double vaccinated,” GHL commercial operations general manager Jeremy Raymond said.

“The decision was not made lightly.

“We conducted a risk assessment considering different factors, including the large number of people that stay with us from all over the country and the risk this posed to our staff, guests and wider community over the peak season, and as a result we have decided to require double vaccination.”

People with bookings for December 17 onwards have been contacted by email. “We are also working through contacting each booking by phone, too,” Mr Raymond said.

The Department of Conservation is also introducing a mandatory Covid-19 vaccination policy for all its accommodation facilities.

“This means from December 15, 2021, eligible people, aged 12 years three months and over, must be fully vaccinated to stay in a DoC hut or camp-site,” DoC heritage and visitors director Steve Taylor said.

Gisborne District Council has already said all campers aged 12 and over will need a vaccine pass at all of the region's freedom and summer camping sites.